The 30

The 30: The thirty miscellaneous people who are part of some group. These are drop and play personalities for a given group.

The 30 is an exercise in character creation. Each member is part of a group or organization or professional archetype.

Each of these characters is basically the same (in terms of skills and mechanics) with some minor differences

. They are provided here as a quick grab for a group member’s personality and chrome.

Okay, you can do all the people in a given place at a given time. What is important is that they are basic characters to fill out a place and have some dramatic connections between them and dramatic hooks for the players to latch on to.

Each character will be listed by its archetype or personality hook (in bold), and one to three lines of description. See the submissions in this group for examples.

Note: If the profession is a lonely one, i.e. there will only be one or such in a given place, then listing individual types is appropriate. Kings and Barkeeps are examples of these.

1.) The Snitch
This guard is all too ready to tell tales about his fellow guards, whenever they break the rules even in a small way. As a result, he is deeply unpopular with them, to the point where one or two sometimes wish they could murder him. The rest would not be quick to hurry to his aid if there really was trouble, and wish that he were sent down to guard the oubliette. His superiors despise him, but know that his type may be useful to them. No one knows how he would fare in a large battle.

2.) The Adventurer
A frustrated former adventurer who joined the King’s Guard, he finds it very hard to stick to his post. He has secretly explored the entire palace from top to bottom and has investigated many places where he shouldn’t have been. If found by other guards or nobles, his excuse is that he is on patrol; so far, the excuse has worked. Despite his wanderlust, he is an honest man who would never let his friends down in battle.

3.) The Eavesdropper
A spy for a hostile power, this guard tends to have his ear pressed up against the door that he is supposed to be guarding. He has discovered several juicy secrets, but hasn’t been able to get them out without arousing suspicion. On more then one occasion, he has filched secret plans without anybody finding out. The Eavesdropper is a more dangerous warrior then the average guard but hides his true abilities until he really needs them. If the King goes to war, he will try to give battle plans to the other side.

4.) The Braggart
Like many of the Royal Guard, he was a former soldier in the Legions and has survived several major battles. He has many tales to tell, which he does continually and incessantly, until his fellows can take no more and order him to shut up. He has a very high opinion of himself, even though it was merely luck that made the crossbow bolts miss him and saved him from being skewered. Despite that, he is a capable fighter and is good at his job.

5.) The Bored
This guard finds being a guard deeply boring, to the point that he wishes that assassins or rebellious subjects would attack the palace so he would have something exciting to do. He has dozens of books that he likes to read when off duty (and when he can get away with it, on duty too). He has fallen asleep on duty more then once and was very lucky that his officers did not find out, otherwise he would have been heavily punished. He stays in the job for the pay, but daily prays that he can go out to battle.

6.) The Moonlighter
This guard moonlights as a bodyguard/bouncer when off duty. He has seen and participated in his share of bar fights and is one of the more capable fighters. He also has loose ties to the criminal elements of the city and is willing to overlook certain things for a price, as long as there is no danger that the royal children would be killed, kidnapped, or otherwise harmed. He has been known to filch small items like the odd pair of silver candlesticks to boost his salary.

7.) The Drugged
This guard would be sacked or imprisoned if his superiors knew what he has been doing. He has a severe addiction to potent Silverspider venom and most of his pay goes to obtaining it. When off duty he has shoplifted, mugged people and burgled houses. When on duty he manages to pretend to be a dutiful Royal Guard, but his days are numbered. Sooner or later he will either die from his habit, get arrested or otherwise mess up.

8.) The Revolutionary
This guard is a secret revolutionary. He has a deep hatred for members of the aristocracy, and has made getting this job his life’s work, with the sole intention of assassinating members of the royal family when he gets the chance. So far he has been unsuccessful, first because he needed to gain their trust and then because he has never had the chance-other guards have always been in the right place at the right time. He did once use poison, but the result was not fatal for the target, who put it down to badly cooked food and sacked two of the royal cooks. In battle, he would try and kill as high-ranking a noble as he could: And if he could get away with it, a noble on his own side.

9.) The Acolyte of Ma-O
This guard is the best friend of the Revolutionary and pretends to him that he shares his ideals, when in fact he just wants to cause trouble and if possible, civil war for it’s own sake and for the sake of his evil god, Ma-O. On the surface he is willing, hardworking, and always does what his superiors tell him, but privately, he is wondering if there is some way that he could kill several members of the royal family at once and get away with it. In a war he would stab the King in the back.

10.) The Casanova
Despite living in a largely sexist country, this guard believes in female equality and is always courteous and interested in female company. He is also good looking and, as a result of his looks and his views, has won the hearts of many of the girls, ranging from those of noble birth to poor servants. Many noblewomen have risked being disinherited or worse by having secret affairs with him. He often sneaks away from his sentry box for secret liaisons.

11.) The Jumpy
This guard notices the smallest thing that is out of place, and is nervous and jumpy when on patrol or in his sentry box. He tends to use his halberd first and ask questions later. In his mind, all kinds of assassins are out there, and only he stands between them and the royal family. His fellow guards often laugh at him and tease him about this; more than once, they’ve played jokes on him, just to see the look on his face. In battle, he would only stay in line if he feared the penalty for cowardice more than the opposing side.

12.) The Crossbowman
He has a large crossbow, a Firebow (that he shouldn’t really have, as it has not been issued to the King’s Guards) and longs to fire it. He has poached in the Royal Gardens a few times, bringing down pheasants with it, and he longs to get a chance to fire it at a human. He keeps the crossbow a secret from all but his most trusted friends. “Jumpy” feels a lot safer with him around and has become his closest friend and, some would say, his lickspittle. In a war, that bow would come in very handy.

13.) The Ambitious
His greatest wish is to make it to NCO or, better still, officer rank, and he tries hard to be as good a guard as he can. The Snitch admires him, but most of the other guards find him irritating. “Sarge” likes him and would promote him if he could, but the Captain distrusts and mildly dislikes him. He is the one who is always on duty correctly, whose armour and weapons are always clean, who is willing, if need be, to put his life on the line to earn recognition. He wants a war as it could be a fast track to promotion.

14.) The Sanguine
Nothing scares him, not even when it should. He has never been known to be worried about anything, and so is often sent to guard the parts of the Palace that would be most likely to be attacked if an attack happens. He despises “Jumpy” and the Ambitious sees him as a rival, while he is actually perfectly content to stay in his post. He enjoys his work and feels that he is doing a lot of good. While he is the Captain’s favourite, the Captain has not told anyone this.

15.) The Royalist
This guard is a great supporter of the Royal Family, and joined the King’s Guards just to get close to them. The other guards roll their eyes when he talks about them, except the Revolutionary, who secretly wants to bash his head in. He has a small portrait of the King by his bed and wears a small locket around his neck with the King displayed in it. Privately he is dissatisfied, as the Captain and “Sarge” make sure that he only patrols the outer part of the Palace: They worry that he will try and talk to the King and get himself sacked. In a war, he would rather die then see the King killed.

16.) The Workaholic
The Workaholic is one of those people who always likes being busy and doing his bit. The Sergeant often holds him up as an example to the other guards, with the result that he has very few friends, as they think he is working so hard to make them look bad compared to him. The Ambitious sees him as another rival, while the Lazybones tries to stay as far away from him as he possibly can. His friends are “Jumpy”, who feels safer with him around, and the Royalist who admires his dedication to duty.

17-The Lazybones
An inveterate goldbricker, every guard unit probably has somebody like him. He likes doing as little as he can possibly get away with, falling asleep on duty, lagging behind on patrol, etc. The Drugged likes him, as he knows that he will never report him and the two have become firm friends. The other guards are for the most part heartily sick and tired of covering up for him and are starting to wish that he would get caught and sacked, but apart from the “Snitch”, none of them will inform on a fellow guard.

18.) The Homesick
This guard came from hundreds of miles away to join the King’s Guards, and ever since then has regretted the choice, as he misses his home dreadfully. Most of the other guards think of him as a “Momma’s Boy” at best, and a disgrace to his unit at worst. He has considered deserting often but fears the penalties if he is caught and returned to his unit. He is saving up most of his pay to buy himself out of the army so he can return home.

19.) The Undercover
This guard is secretly one of the Inspectors, sent by the Inspector General to spy on the military units to root out dissension, sloppiness, and incipient mutiny, and find out who is doing well and pulling their weight so that rewards and punishments can be handed out as needed to those who deserve them. He fears being uncovered before he can get his report out to his superiors, as there are many in the unit who would not like what he has to say.

20.) The Troublemaker
On the surface, this fellow’s a likeable person, but underneath he likes to cause trouble. He spreads rumours through the unit, plays practical jokes, tells the Snitch when other guards are being lazy, and does other things of that kind. Despite this, he is ready to do his job, and would risk his life if needed to keep assassins away from the Royal Family.

21.) The Obese
Grossly fat, this guard would be quickly outrun in any chase, and was very lucky to get hired at all. “Sarge” likes to make him run on the spot until he drips with sweat, and has cut his rations to try and slim him down a bit. Several of the other guards feel sorry for the Obese, as he has a nice personality within his swollen body, and they know that hey could trust him in a crisis.

22.) The Gruff
A man of mystery and few words, he is one of those “Who goes there?” sort of guards. He has a scar on his cheek which he keeps silent about. Some think he is an outlaw who has chosen to make a new life for himself, others think that he got the scar in a drunken bar fight in a tavern and is embarrassed about it. He has no real friends but no one dislikes him either and he is good at his job.

23.) The Stressed
He was in the same war that the Braggart was involved in and was very lucky not to be killed or maimed. Whilst the Braggart actually enjoyed being in battle, the Stressed was left a mental wreck. His officers took pity on him and sent him to this easy post as a Royal Guard, as he had been a good soldier previously. He hates the Braggart, sympathizes with “Jumpy” and leaps when anything surprises him.

24.) The Torturer
As well as being a guard he has a second job, the Royal Torturer, and takes great pleasure in his work of breaking fingers, branding with the hot iron, mangling limbs and if need be, killing people. The other guards are privately disgusted with him except for the Royalist, who thinks that the tortured people deserve their fate. The Revolutionary would murder him if he could get away with it. In a war, he would interrogate POWs brutally.

25.) The Chaplain
This guard thinks of himself as a holy warrior and quotes religion at very opportunity. Several people are fed up with him tying to convert them, but the Captain and Sergeant find him useful, as he is honest and can be trusted to guard the Royal Wine Cellar without secretly helping himself, and to keep others away from the wine as well.

26.) The Barracks Lawyer
This guard insists in sticking to the letter of the regulations and refuses to do any overtime or menial jobs that he does not legally have to do. A barracks lawyer, he knows every quirk and loophole of the rules better than anyone else in the guards, including the Captain. “Sarge” and the Captain are annoyed with him but are helpless to dismiss him. They have asked the Snitch to see if he can catch him breaking the rules so that he can be thrown out of the Royal Guards, but so far if he has done anything wrong, no one has found out about it.

27.) The Conjurer
This guard likes to learn magic in his spare time. Whilst the larger spells are beyond his ability, he knows a surprisingly large number of cantrips, which provide him with amusement or make his life easier. One lets him know if the Captain, Sergeant, or the Snitch are in the area, so that he never gets caught doing anything wrong.

28.) The Keystone Cop
This guard tries his best but things often go wrong for him. He trips over his halberd or farts in the company of his betters or gets lost in the Palace corridors or slips over. Whilst he has several friends, they think he would be of little use in a chase and are uncertain of how good he would be in a battle situation. The Sergeant dislikes him but the Captain thinks that it’s not his fault.

29-The Sergeant
A veteran who joined the army as a private and has been in it for many years before achieving NCO status, “Sarge” has seen it all, the good times and the hard times, the battles and the long hard marches and the patrols in occupied territory where no one can tell the enemy apart from the civilians. When he grew too old to fight effectively and was given the chance to retire with a small plot of hand, he said that he wanted to stay in the army and his officers were pleased and gave him this job.

30.) The Captain
Another army veteran of many battles, he was identified for promotion to high rank but was instead shunted sideways to command the King’s Guards. He likes the vast majority of those under him and is dedicated to their welfare and proud of the job he holds protecting the Royal Family. If need be, he would give his life to protect the Monarchy or his own men. At present, there has been peace for several years, but should the King need to lead his army into battle personally, he knows that it will be up to his men to fight and die for their King.

The Fop
Always meticulously dressed in the most current fashions, a staunch defender of tradition, a bit of a pansy, often incredibly annoying, and terribly proud of his family name. Unfortunately, he is the last of it, and may or may not be able to continue the line.

The Harkonen
He’s the unquestioned master of his house. He’s also a bloody lunatic. Madness is in all of his family, but he’s one of the worst. And he enjoys it. He would like his sphere of influence to increase dramatically, and has been trying to exterminate his rival Atreides for an indeterminable length of time. Most of the rest of the aristocracy is on the one hand certain he will one day succeed, and on the other afraid that he will turn his attention to them when he does.

The Atreides
This aristocrat takes his responsibilities seriously, even if he may not have really wanted the job. He tends to think that all of the social niceties he’s expected to observe are slightly ridiculous and will often do what he thinks should be done without regards to how people perceive him, unless talked out of it. Between his duties and trying to keep his family safe from the Harkonen, he has very little time for much else.

The Monte Cristo
In a world where money can buy titles, it matters little that this aristocrat hasn’t a drop of noble blood in him. A former adventurer, he’s returned to his homeland unspeakably wealthy and unrecognized. He wants revenge for the betrayal he once suffered at the hands of supposed friends, and is using his wealth to get it. He’s very quiet, preferring to let others have the glory, and also very calculating. He can be very cruel and ruthless, but will only be so to those who have wronged him or who stand in his way. The sort of man who always settles his accounts in one way or another.

The De la Poer
Something terrible happened not long ago, and this aristocrat refuses to speak of it. He left his lands, his title, and his wealth behind with no thought to keep hold of them, and left his family dead. Peasants whisper that it is better that they are dead, but that is only so much talk. The De la Poer has no wish to exonerate himself, and only seems to want to forget anything connected with the bloodline of which he is the last.

The Iron Mask
For whatever reason or another, this aristocrat is not who he claims to be. He is an impostor, placed in this role by others. Hidden away from the world, he has been brought into the noble world to replace the man he greatly resembles. He was carefully trained by dissidents in positions of power, and is watched just as carefully to see that he does not slip up or that his deposed brother’s men do not harm him. Whether he will be better or worse than the man he replaced remains to be seen.

The Zorro
At first glance, he seems something of a fop, merely just another hanger-on of the social elite, albeit an attractive and honorable one. However, he is an unparalleled swordsman and rider (and is well loved by his horse, to the extent that no one else can ride him). He sees himself as a champion of the people, and what he cannot accomplish within the confines of the aristocracy, he is more than willing to do with his blade. He also has a rather acidic sense of humor, and has left an outraged opponent humiliated more than once.

The Bathory
This aristocrat seems to be a shining example of what the aristocracy should be, but in reality is a human monster who can make the Harkonen look sane. Almost definitely a psychopath, she thinks nothing of casually murdering her own peasants for whatever ends, be it a vain quest for eternal beauty or personal amusement. Only the protection of her title and the front she puts up for her fellow nobility has so far saved her from a rampaging mob.

The De Sade
Everyone knows that this aristocrat is a depraved maniac. Stories of his debauches, orgies, and other sexual depravities abound, and only the most destitute will enter service with him. An unapologetic freak and fetishist, he often and loudly criticizes the more “normal” of his peers, particularly the more religious. While it’s something of a mystery how he’s managed to get away with it for this long, it’s almost certain that someday he’ll be hanged for heresy, treason, or some less lofty crime.

The Machiavelli
This aristocrat is a master of playing both sides against the middle. He is quite adept at the eternal game of politics, and understands psychology so well that he doesn’t have a very hard time of getting people to do what he wants and serving his own ends. He won’t be a serious threat to the throne, but you can bet he will be the power behind it.

The Borgia
This aristocrat has friends and family in very high places, and makes everyone nervous as hell. Nebulous rumors abound about secret depravities, but no one has ever been able to come up with definitive proof. Her political rivals have a tendency to turn up dead, but there is none of the frothing of the Harkonen or the subtlety of the Machiavelli. That poisoning last month? Everyone is sure she had a hand in it, but no one can prove it.

The MacBeth
This man seems a loyal servant of the king, but he has a burning ambition to be greater than he is: he wishes to be king himself! He can be devious, and he has the king’s ear. While he might hesitate at first to do something as drastic as eliminating his rivals, once he conquers himself and commits the first deed, he won’t hesitate again. In the end, he will be king, or he will be dead. However, what he hasn’t yet realized is that his pride and driving ambition will one day be the death of him.

The Robespierre
Rude, crude, and socially unacceptable. He made his fortune himself, and earned a title on his own merits, and is justifiably proud of that fact. However, he has none of the manners and none of the delicacy of the born nobility. He often makes faux pas, and say shocking things. Most of his fellow aristocrats find him an insufferable fool, a common, low-born disgrace acting above his station, except for the Atreides, who finds him refreshing, and the de Sade, who finds him amusing.

The Jermyn
While he is a nice enough, well cultured fellow, and has beautiful manners, there was something terribly wrong somewhere in his bloodline. He’s hideously ugly, and tends to summon up unpleasant associations in one’s subconscious. Madness runs in his family line, as in many of the others, but the Jermyn madness is unique in its mostly self-destructive aspect. Four lords of the line have done away with their entire households, save one or two, and of those four, only two lived long enough to be confined to the madhouse. The current lord hasn’t exhibited the madness, true, but only time will tell…

The Madoc
The youngest son of his line, this aristocrat sensibly left home at an early age, letting his elder brothers fight amongst themselves for their father’s position. He has become an adventurer, sailing to far away lands, seeking a territory he might call his own. The time he’s spent in the wilds have roughened him, although he is not nearly so crude as the Robespierre. He is uncomfortable at court, and would much prefer his explorations.

The Romanoff
Bright lights, fine music, excellent food, this is the Romanoff’s world. He cares for little else, and cannot be bothered to alleviate the condition of his peasants, many of whom live in abject poverty. Any taxes he claims go to finance his beautiful clothes and trips to the social capitals of the world. He is always very popular at court, but his selfishness will get him killed someday.

The Brahman
He is considered very enlightened among the nobility, and is seen as a scholar beyond par. Older than most, he tries to caution the younger aristocrats to cool their blood and moderate themselves, but they pay him little heed. The ambitious ones regard him with suspicion, for he claims that he is not interested in expanding his power, in fact he is quite content with what he has. He tends to be deeply, but quietly religious, which often makes him a target for the de Sade’s insults.

The Marsh
Everyone hates him, although few will say why. His family is respectable enough, but like the Jermyn, there is something terribly wrong somewhere. The difference is that it’s almost a certainty that this family secured their original wealth and title by consorting with dangerous, unspeakable horrors from the very pits of hell. Rumors of devil-worship and pacts with evil powers are often, if vaguely heard. And it’s possible, even likely that he is still consorting with whatever powers his ancestors summoned to this world…

The Richelieu
This man is intimately connected with the state religion, most likely occupying some position of authority with in the church. However, he seems much more interested in the politics of court than matters of faith. He quite often uses his religious authority to force people to do what he wants, and puts up the merest show of adhering to the tenants of the faith. The Richelieu is corrupt and greedy, and will not hesitate to crush those in his way. His hypocrisy makes him the de Sade’s favorite target.

The Aladdin
This is the new arrival to court. Somehow, most likely in an unprecedented, cataclysmic fashion, an ordinary nobody was elevated to the aristocracy. He is trying desperately to fit in and mimic the other nobles, but doesn’t do it well. He is mocked, often viciously, by the others, although he seems to be oblivious to it so far. The Brahman and the Machiavelli are both considering taking him under their wing, for vastly different reasons.

The Addams
This fellow is generally weird and most likely insane. What he says, does, and thinks is almost the opposite of what normal people, of any class, would. This is made more awkward by the fact that he doesn’t seem to understand that he is not normal. His home is widely considered to be a haunt of spooks and monsters, and those who visit him should be very wary. However, he is essentially harmless. He never intentionally hurts anyone (unless he thinks they want him to), and has never done any lasting harm. The de Sade finds him remarkably enlightened, the Machiavelli finds him annoying, and he tends to make everyone else nervous.

The Stick
So named because he seems to have one up his backside. He is remarkably focused on honor, his image, and the sanctity of his family name, and has no sense of humor to speak of. He will never do anything dishonest or dishonorable, and if accused of any such will insist upon a duel. His uncompromising stance often makes him subject to ridicule, which has lead to a long-standing feud between him and the Robespierre.

The Connecticut Yankee
This man is so out of his element it is a complete mystery how he got here in the first place. He seems to be from a *completely* different land, and his views are so radically different from everyone else’s that he has trouble understanding others. However, he is quite intelligent, and makes use of what he knows. He has introduced many practices (and possibly technologies) from his native land, and is slowly gaining acceptance and influence. This does not make many of his fellow aristocrats happy, and it is just as well that he is always on his guard.

The Amalthea
This lady has quite entranced many of the younger men (and not a few of the older) of the court. She is remarkably beautiful, and has an almost unearthly quality that gives her an air of mystery. She doesn’t speak much, and socializes less, preferring the company of her own thoughts. The generally accepted story labels her the niece of a great magician, though the relationship is a bit difficult to place. Some malicious gossip has started to spread a different story around the court, claiming she isn’t quite as human as she appears. Surely that is only jealousy.

The Jason
This young lord does not spend much time at court. He is kept busy by the constant illness of his father, spending as much time as he can spare trying to find a way to restore his father’s failing health. He is unquestionably brave, having journeyed to many far off and exotic places searching for fabulous artifacts. His only real friend at court is the Madoc, because they both understand the love of adventure. The other aristocrats either mock him for his stupidity or criticize him for shirking his duties as a lord.

The Louis
Though he has money, title, and a respected name, this man only puts up the barest show of aristocracy. He has been deeply depressed since his wife and child died a few years ago, and has let more and more of his courtly duties slip or handed them off to others. He spends most of his time in an alcoholic stupor, too apathetic to even suicide. He is quickly becoming a non-entity in the world of politics, and it is only a matter of time before one of his stronger-minded peers takes his place.

The von Doom
He rules his lands with an iron fist, and is seen as a merciless despot by his peasants. However, his actions stem from a desire to improve the situation he came into, and the only way he knows how is by force. He does not aspire to any greater power, but merely wants to undo the damage caused by others before him- greedy pigs, soft-headed and soft-hearted fools. He is a bit of a wild card, since he will undertake any action he deems necessary without hesitation, up to and including the removal of rivals and anyone else standing in his way.

The Lucentio
This aristocrat should be perfectly at home at the court; he was born into wealth and name. However, at best he is utterly clueless about how to deal with other people, particularly those of the opposite sex. (Some have gone so far as to call him a blithering idiot.) However, he knows of his shortcomings, and has the sense to listen to those who do understand how things work (in particular, his personal servant is an invaluable help). As long as things do not deviate from the script he is given, he can avoid making a fool of himself. However, if something unexpected occurs, he will most likely make a mess of it.

The General
This is an older aristocrat. He may have been born into his title, or he may have earned it for his performance in battle. Either way, he finds it a nuisance. He doesn’t want to be at court, he wants to be out in the field at the head of the army. Though he is an excellent soldier and leader, and has a sound grasp of tactics, he is no diplomat. He is used to giving orders, not using finesse, and his brusque nature often leads to unpleasant scenes. He will not be at court unless he simply can’t avoid it, and in those cases will clearly be uncomfortable with his surroundings. Often, he will only put in a perfunctory appearance, and slip away as soon as he can.

The Scientist
This aristocrat fancies himself a scientist and scholar of the first water. He is almost obsessed with the advances of science, and keeps up with all of the latest scientific works and discoveries. He has a series of experiments or a pet theory he’s pursuing, and will often discourse on the topic, at great length. Whether you want him to or not. Few others in the court are as fascinated by the topic as he is, and fewer still can keep up with him. As a result, his “scientific discussions” are more pedantic lectures. (There is a rumor going round that he does not quite know as much as he says he does, and that, in fact, he often makes grievous errors. The Scientist, of course, would be greatly offended by the suggestion.) Often times, he will corner a younger member of the court, like the Lucentio or the Aladdin and talk for hours if not stopped.

Herein are listed 30 Barkeeps, Bartenders, or proprietary owners of the drinking and sleeping establishments so frequented by adventurers and their loyal henchmen.

The Visionary
This barkeep has a dream, to one day leave behind the tedium of wiping down the bar and pouring beer all day. He aspires to become an adventurer in his own rite. He asks the PCs about hints and tips to being a hero on the go. He is young and entusiastic.

The Joker
This beerman is always ready with a quick joke. Finding a free joke website, or the joke page out of playboy ought to supply plenty of jokes. He gets a quick laugh, he’s not a stand-up man.

The Traditionalist
The third generation owner/operator of the tavern/inn. He will not tolerate changes from the ways things used to be ran, when the barkeep knew everyones name. Cheers.

The Thrill-Seeker
Lives vicariously through his patrons, offering them shots of hard liquor along with plentiful ale. The atmosphere is boisterous and the berkeep isnt afraid of wading into a bar brawl with his own two fists.

The Survivor
One time adventurer who was maimed and can no longer travel. Working a bar is a better life than begging in the streets and a good shot better than most war and adventure veterans. Lives out his old war stories with the patrons who range from the incedulous to the absolutely enthralled.

The Rogue
This barkeep is slightly oily, and offers games of chance to patrons, in secret if it is illegal, cards and dice for the most part.

The Rebel
The moonshiner and bootlegger, who sells contraband orcish ale and euphoria enducing elvin fey wine. d**n’s the man while making his money. Sympathetic to those on the wrong side of the law.

The Perfectionist
Demands the best from his employees. Frequently berates the serving wenches for spills and incorrect orders, and the rooms are always immaculte. No sawdust on the floor here.

The Penitent
Works the bar and pours the beer, but also offers quotes from the scripture and admonishes the drunkanrds and the bellicose. Well known for beerbarrel sermons and cries for moderation.

The Pedagogue
This barkeep has been there, done that. Knows a few low level spells and can pick a lock, can swing a sword, but would rather tell others how to do it, or how they did it wrong rather than do something himself. Often patronizing and always pedantic.

The Monster
This man is more beast, beating wenches for the least infraction and starts tavern brawls when he suspects patrons of cheating (beating him in cards) A violent man who buys his way out of the gaol on a regular basis. Claims to be a good king’s man.

The Masochist
Workaholic, pours the beer, and serves it since his tavern is woefully understaffed. Anything done is done by the single owner operator, dont expect speedy room service.

The Martyr
The barkeep is obviously barely able to keep up with his tasks, and is obviouly suffering and in pain. If inquired about, he claims to be working to make sure his two daughters can have new clothing this year. Any offer of extra funds is almost as offensive as shorting him on his due. “Dont need yer d**n pity money!”

The Loner
Doesnt talk other than in as few words as possible. inhospitable and surly.

The Leader
Not only is he the barkeep, but he is the local man with a plan. A sworn lord’s man, he is responcible for the safebeing of the village and is accounted as the lords appointed mayor, as well as beerman.

The Judge
Serves double duty as an arbiter in the area, and squabbling locals will interrupt meals and such with complaints for the barkeep to arbitrate. A good man who works hard, but is often overtaxed by the incessant demands of the populace.

The Gallant
The life of the tavern, this barkeep knows all of the great stories, and can play a musical instrument and sometimes even cast about a small bit of cantrippy magic. Perhaps once aspired to be a bard but settled for the beerman’s stage.

The Fanatic
The only thing that matters is the joust, how the local baron performed at the last tourney to wagering bets on the next meeting at the list. This beerman knows everything from the local champions preferred drink to the type of wood used in his favored lance. just dont talk bad about the home team.

The Director
Micromanages the work of the wenches, scolding them for being inefficient and slow. Sometimes steps in and shows them how to do things, albeint in a cold technical manner that leaves the patrons more inclined to their slightly inept hostess. Often spills beer when serving patrons himself.

The Deviant
The tavern is a strip club, with the wenches going about topless and serving watered down ale. The barkeep keeps the taps flowing while the patrons dole about coin after coin to the gyrating women. The barkeep gets a hefty share of the wealth.

The Curmudgeon
The tavern is a great place, to everyone but the owner. He sees the warped boards in the floor and every sour note the bard hits. Complains constantly, but in a fashion that makes the place seem more comfortable than decrepid.

The Conniver
Sits in the corner of the tavern while the serving wenches tap their own beer. laughs as the world does his work for him, and pays him to boot. A gambling man, snake oil sellsman, and used horse dealer.

The Conformist
Runs his tavern just like the tavern down the road/in the next town. Takes positive comparisons as the greatest praise, but ignores anything that is different from his idolized tavern.

The Competitor
Here the best looking wenches, and the lowest priced rooms, and the biggest tavern and the biggest inn with the best hunting hounds and the best frock coat. Aspires to be a merchant prince and local hero.

The Child
Inexperienced and overwhelmed. This barkeep whines of the workload, screws up orders, and couldnt function without the assistance of his irritated staffmembers. Cold beer in your lap?

The Celebrant
Festival of the Vine, Pennons, All Saint’s Day, this barkeep has the best parties and the most cheap alcohol. raise up your glass and sing along with the drinking song or you’ll be forever branded a pansy.

The Caregiver
Always has an open ear for anyone who needs to let out their sob story, and usually has some coin for those really down on their luck. Will let patrons work off their debt, but wont let the broke drink beer, they get water.

The Bravo
Armwrestle for a free beer, tossing wenches for distance, and powerlifting anvils with handles, strength is this barkeeps greatest attribute, and he likes to show it off, especially to the lay-dies.

The Bon Vivant
Taverns are for fun, so drink and be merry, lord knows the barkeep is two drinks away from the floor himself.

The Architect
This barkeep has a plan, and a goal. He is going to build a bigger and better tavern, one made out of stone and mortar, and he is going to have his own brewery. Fields to grow the grain and the hops, and workers to grind grain and stir the vats of beer. The PCs have already seen the foundations of the new stone tavern and the fields are producing their first yields of grain, to finance the brewery to come.

Appearance
Brigands are rough and tumble men who often live off of the land, make themselves nuisances to trade routes, farmlands, and other settled, civilized folk. Most come from military backgrounds, failed mercenaries, discharged soldiers, and disgruntled city guardsmen. They have decent weapon skills, don’t make glaring tactical errors, but are entirely bound together by a single charismatic brigand leader. Without this leader or a few of his elite inner circle, the brigands are likely to quickly disperse to avoid death or capture.

Basic Equipment
Brigands will have at least two weapons, their prime weapon being treasured, and likely metal, such as a sword, flail, or some other melee weapon. Their secondary weapon is one easily made, or useful in larger numbers, such as plain shortbows, spears or pikes. They are also generally on foot, with only their leader likely having a mount to ride.

Roleplaying Notes
Brigand bands have clearly defined packing orders, with those being more dangerous or skilled gravitating to leadership positions. The leaders will parlay before engaging in battle as the brigands are more interested in getting loot and goods than killing, and possibly being killed.

And with no further ado…the 30 brigands.

1. Lind the Baron
While having neither claim to nobility, or even leadership within the brigand band, Lind dresses in stolen finery and decorates himself with jewelry as he thinks a proper lord would. This means he is decked out ina good deal of cheap or costume jewelry and a good number of women’s pieces. While pretending to be a dandy, still a filthy brigand.

2. Afrahm Softhands
Surely one of the most brutal of the brigands with his two handed battleax, Afrahm is known for his fondness of female captives, treating them better than any of the other brigands. He will also capture women, rather than harm or kill them if possible.

3. Pressler Pine
This brigand, fond of using throwing axes, claims to be from a distant land that while far away, is not horribly exotic. He is a competent woodsman and hunter in addition to being a bead eye with the bearded ax and hatchet.

4. Elvgrin Elfson
Claiming to be half-elven, this brigand is a good shot with his bow and is able to cast a single very low power magic spell once a day. Most often he is able to conjure faerie fire to illuminate or frighten locals

5. Tib the Terrible
Known for his appalling lack of manners, or hygiene, this brigand is known for spouting off some of the foulest limericks and dirty jokes known to man. no one is sure if the Terrible part of his name comes from his smell, his taste in humor, or his fondness for using a pair of horseman’s flails on foot.

6. Moon-Eyes Vors
A tough brigand with his long spear and leather buckler, Moon-Eyes is known among the others in the camp for his token of the feminine moon goddess and unusual piety.

7. Masrimi the Unseen
This brigand has a useful skill of hiding in shadows, and being overlooked. This could be a major advantage for the brigand as his attacks with the iron mace he carries would be almost always fatal. This isnt the case as most often Masrimi uses his skill to hide and then sleep when he is supposed to be on guard detail.

8. Two Swords Shaw
Shaw is capable of weilding two swords in combat, usually a pair of matched short swords, but among the brigands he is better known for the tattoos that cover his chest, arms and back. Shaw has an entire brothel of naked women inked into his skin.

9. Claudio Clear-Shot
So called for his good eye with the bow, Claudio is really a Claudia, this female brigand keeping her gender secret from most of the band, and those that know find her more useful for an archer than pillow fodder. In combat she often uses aimed shots for the groin.

10. Cole Quickfoot
A deft runner and scout, Cole is one of the brigand band’s best skirmishers, using a bracer full of fire hardened javelins and a wooden buckler. If pressed, this agile bandit uses a short sword and natural dexterity to avoid being killed.

11. Delamare the Cat-Killer
Delamare is a large heavily scarred man who wears a hood and cape made of the hide of a mountain lion (or other suitable large feline) that he killed himself with a wooden spear. Bare chested with a necklace of lion claws, Delamare is a dangerous stalker and ambush artist.

12. Deacon Rogue
No one knows this former Holy Man’s name as he forsook the church and the cloth for some reason. Most suspect heresy, and the Deacon’s combat skills with the warhammer and glaive persuade them not to ask to closely. A guarded and quiet man filled with unholy rage.

13. Farmer Emoran
Once an owner and tiller of the land, Emoran was evicted and quickly took up the life of banditry. He tends a garden for the band, and is capable of fighting with the bow, flail, and anything long and spear like. He is a favorite of the band and unlikely to be in first combats.

14. Iron-Plate Janko
This brigand has cobbled together a suit of full platemail, carries an iron rimmed shield and a brace of swords. while not the fastest or most skilled of the brigands, few are able to stand toe to toe with the brigands victims in close in, hot and heavy combat. A brigand ‘tank’

15. Munson Deerkiller
One of the best hunters among the brigands, Munson is armed with the bow and a long knife that most of the time he uses on deer. He is decked out in cured deerhide and considered a ‘skulker’ who will shadow slow moving prey to feel them out before the band attacks.

16. Falter the Ex-Guard
Falter once served in a crack city guard company and was dishonorably discharged from said company and exiled from the city foe being involved in a thieves guild plot to assassinate several council members. Falter is a hard man with an equaly hard face a drill sargent’s voice.

17. Wistful Candelar
Woe and ill-tidings upon Candelar who once has a lovely and sensuous foreign wife, a large home, and many fine horses. Always full of complaints of his now lost life, many of which are inconsistant, Candelar is the Brigand’s Brigand, willing to hunt other bands for their loot and supplies.

18. Battering Beltrim
This large and burly brigand enjoys nothing more than pounding someone senseless with his bare fists. Intimidating and suitably armored, he wades into foes with his shield to engage in bashing attacks, punches and grapplings.

19. Lucky Reeds
This thin brigand is known for his exceptional good luck, being the one who got away, or the one who saw the law coming just in time. Most consider him a lucky charm and will always shout for him to join their group. Reeds has a minor token of luck that he was given some years ago by a gypsy lover.

20. Dead Nagel
This brigand paints his face with white paint and wears armor with ‘death wounds’ in it, often going into a raid with fresh blood. Many see this obvious zombie attacking with the brigands and surrender so as to not be contaminated by its evil bite. Nagel is a practical joker, and the clown of the band.

21. Roper Armstrong
This brigand has a loop of rope that he is able to spin atop his head that he uses to throw and dismount horsemen, remove coachmen from coaches, or snare unsuspecting men-at-arms to demand their surrender. Once worked with cattle.

22. Pretty Gallman
Much like Lind the Baron, Pretty Gallman is decked out in jewelry. The difference is that Gallman’s is pierced through his body. His ears, nose, bottom lip, and both nipples are pierced and he is connected by small lengths of thin chain. This is in addition addition to a variety of tattoos of demons, skulls, serpents and the like. Screams like a berzerker as he lunges into battle with a wickedly curved and serrated sword.

23. Wilhem Withers
This lean wolfish man is cold and fueled by bitterness and hate. The other men give him a hard time and a wide berth due to his impotence, though the brigand leader is more likely to leave charge of female prisoners to Withers than to any other member of the band, especially if he wants the women…unspoiled.

24. Flyming the Furious
This brigand, armed to the teeth with spears, throwing knives, and hand axes has a unique companion in the form of a small and nearly powerless sprite/pixie. the small squeaky puff of light and fluttering wings will fly into the faces of opponents to distract them so that Flyming can cut them down with ease.

25. Wotto Silkstealer
This brigand is a merchant at heart, always looking for the best and most choice items from a merchants goods to steal. Also has an eye to pick out females that might be ‘broken’ to the brigands use, both as a menial servant and pillow fodder.

26. Zeemoz the Squirrel
This brigand, armed with a crossbow and throwing daggers is known for scurrying up trees and hiding amongst the branches. He will stay silent, often waiting until the second or third round of combat before firing his crossbow at stubborn defenders who refuse to surrender to the band.

27. Red Catterfeld
Known for his shocking red hair and painted armor, Catterfeld is a tough warrior with a bad attitude. This brigand carries a mace and a round shield and has leather armor he has dyed red with local pigments. Can out-drink even a dwarf.

28. Jensen Green-Boots
While not dressed in lace of silk, Jensen is a dandy at heart, and takes great care of his most valued possession, a pair of handsome green riding boots. He uses a thin bladed thrusting sword and a buckler, and can disarm common foes on a regular basis.

29. Buelle the Painter
This brigand, armed with daggers and a bow claims to have been an aspiring artist once, and his skill with the pen and brush support this claim. If asked why he became a brigand it is due to having been ousted by a rival and framed for a crime he didnt commit.

30. Asudwor Tree-Talker
This brigand has the unique ability to speak with plants which he doesnt seldomly since most plants tend to be very boring conversationalists. Asudwor fights with a spear and daggers.

You find yourself brought to the Great Lord’s Court after completing your assignment. Thanks are given. You are invited to the festivities later that day. Court is adjourned and you are now trapped in a room with numerous courtiers ....

1- The Scribe of the Law
He is a surprisingly young man of fair looks. He is dressed simply when compared to others of the Court. His look is quiet intense and he has a memory for everything said around him or read. He is quite shy and has a slight stammer if surprised, stressed, or dealing with a pretty woman. If he did not spend so much time with his scrolls, he would be an effective courtier.

2- Master of the Coin
He is the High Lord’s treasurer, and responsible for taxation as well. He is a very calm man with an exceptionally keen mind. Other than an overabundance of gold jewelry, his dress is unremarkable. He can be quite pleasant in a banal sort of way.

3- The Peacock
This courtier has some noble blood, but little to no real estate. He is the exceptionally well dressed and vain. His voice is a touch too high for comfort. He seems to pursue women overly hard, without much success.. it makes one think he might swing the other way.

4- The Loud One
He is the High Lord’s Cousin. He is a big man full of life and a voice that at a whisper can be heard across the room. He has a dislike for the Peacock who he thinks is a bit too effeminate to be a real man.

5- The Serious One
She is the Widow of one of the important vassals and holds regency for her young son. She is sharp as a whip and just as “friendly”. Analytical, careful, and never frivolous (except after too many glasses of wine… a vice she only occasionally indulges), she is on the Grand Lord’s small council.

6- The Religious One
The noble’s answer to most problems is to “Pray for Guidance in the matter” and “wait for the God’s to deliver us”. He still dresses like a courtier, but always wears a conspicuous holy item or two.

7- The Untrustworthy One
He is the local Lord of Vice - a title some people actually use. He is a wicked man with corrupting appetites; owning most of the Brothels, Seedy Bars, and Gambling Dens in the Region. He uses his position at court to avoid “trouble” because of these places. He captures many an unwary lordling in his snares, blackmailing them with their momentary indiscretions. He is the King’s opposition. The schemer who looks to advance his position with corruption and blackmail. He has the Peacock and The Sycophant in his back pocket.

Actually, he is the most loyal person to the Grand Lord, being the Lord of Whispers (Intelligencers/ Spies). He does all the “dirty work” and intrigue so the Grand Lord can rule. He is in a public feud with the August Noble. It originally started as a “pose”, but he now suspects the August Noble is not really what he seems.

8- The Officious One
His narrow face drawn to a perpetual scowl, this man talks down to everyone. He stands ramrod straight and dresses impeccably. He is the stickler for rules, protocols, and traditions. He will go along with anything that has precedent. He and the Herald seem to keep each others company a great deal.

9- Mistress of the Dance
She is the social butterfly of the court. She works to plan every dance, dinner, and affair. While of noble line, she has a place at court only because she works for the Seneschal. She is currently shopping for a rich noble husband and is often a mistress for one noble or another.

10- The Warrior Born
This man comes from a long and proud lines of warriors. While not the most physically scary fighter, he is a master of the war crafts, including strategy, tactics, military history, and siegecraft. He often just disarms opponents when fighting.

11-12 Lord and Lady of the Marriage
This lusty lord and fun wife have nine daughters and a son to marry off. (At one time or another, about half the kids will be at court with them.) If he can’t arrange a marriage for his children, he will try to arrange a marriage for every single person in the court.

13- The Widower
This man is deeply in the black for his lovely lost wife. He is morose and depressing. While he hates all this activity, his sense of duty to the High Lord keeps him at court attending to various administrative duties.

14- Pretentious One
The Lordling likes to throw his titles around. Unfortunately, he is amongst peerage here… He often goes down to the common areas to abuse little people.

15- Idealist
This courtier is the one always proposing “new ideas”. Many of these “new ideas” are totally half baked and will never work, but he keeps pushing innovation and “new thinking”. He likes anything new it seems. The Religious One and Officious One work against him at every turn, both socially and politically.

16- The Quiet Power Broker
He listens. He sits and appears to think, one hand rubbing his bearded jaw. He does not speak often, but when he does people listen. He is the most politically astute man in court. He even has deduced the Lord of Vice is the Great Lord’s right hand Lord of Whispers. He knows how to get people to do what is “right”, who to talk to that will do something to cause someone else to do what he wants.

17-18 Opposing Brothers
Due to marriage, one brother is now in the next land over. The two brothers now fight over everything.

19- The Sycophant
He is actually an amateur schemer, thinking he is manipulating others with his fawning attentions. He is really a joke about the court and a pawn to real power players.

20- The Young One
This poor lost lamb was not ready for court. He lost his parents tragically. His lands are very important to the realms. He has to take on these responsibilities early. He is the pawn in a number of schemes.

21- The Curmudgeon
An ill-tempered person full of resentment and stubborn notions. He hates the Idealist on general principal. He does have a soft spot for the Young One. He may be the kids only trusted ally

22- The August Noble
This most august noble seems to be the “perfect noble”. He is gracious, politic, and proper. He works for the Good of the realm. He is recent to the Great Lord’s small council. Most assume he is just the “Best of Men” and praise him as such. In truth, it is a pose. The man is a greedy, manipulative, bastard. However, he is planning long term. He is getting into the graces of the nobility and little folk, so he can implement his own plans.

23-25 Blue Lord
This lord, and his lady, and his servants and children, are all kept in his proper heraldic colors. He is of middling importance to the realm as his estates include some needed resources.

26- The High Priest
This worldly priest is the High Lord’s personal religious consultant. He is just a seat below the Head of the Local religion. While he seems worldly, the man is a master of logic and theology. He always placates The Religious One, though he finds him a tad dull and annoying.

27- The Rich Merchant
This pleasantly plump man is the richest merchant in the region. He has parlayed his wealth into a position of power in the region. He spends much of his time at court now, even though he is not noble. The High Lord spends time seeking his advice.

28- The Rustic
This noble is from the “hinterlands” of the region. He is a bit out of date and not every courtly. He is however an expert huntsman, tracker, and shot/ bowman.

29- Herald
A man of middling age and very proper dress. He keeps track of bloodlines, marriages, births, deaths, and all noble lines in the region. He is in charge of dozens of loud voiced boys who he trains in proper ettiquite and protocol, as well as heraldry.

30- Seneschal
The Seneschal has served two kings now, and might still serve a third. This old man knows the ins and out of the Castle, Court, and Kingdom. He actually controls the flow of money and messages in and out of the Castle. Some say he is the Master of Whispers, but that is just a rumor that seems never to go away.

1. THE MASTER THIEF
He is the leader of thieves. He does not have overall control of the thieves’ gang/guild (divided as thieves always are) but he is feared and respected by all the other criminals in the city. As is to be expected he has many enemies as well.

2. THE ASSASSIN
This thief specialises in hired killings. The people he kills are often rich and powerful, as The Assassin is too expensive for the poor.

3. THE BACKSTABBER
This guy is deceitful even for a thief. He makes the Master Thief look like a Knight and nobody trusts him. He is purely venal and money is the only thing he holds in any esteem.

4. THE KNIFER
This man is a specialist in knife fighting and is invaluable in street fights.

5. THE KNIFE FENCER
This guy provides high quality knives and daggers for the more successful thieves to use.

6. THE BURGLAR
He steals indiscriminately from rich or poor not being involved in violent crime by preference. Although he won’t have any qualms about killing anyone who gets in his way.

7. THE HEAVY
This man does work for mainly for nobles or landlords who want peasants evicted or rude merchants trashed.

8. THE TORTURER
This interrogator doesn’t need racks or iron maidens to make people talk. A sharp object, a terrifying smile and some sawdust is all The Torturer needs to find the truth.

9. THE MADMAN
He kills for fun and takes orders from no body. He is like the Torturer except he needs no excuses to cause misery.

10. THE SECOND
The second in command to the Master Thief. He is loyal and takes care of the more brutal and dirty jobs of the Master.

10. THE KID
This kid will no doubt make a fine thief one-day. He possesses lock-picking skills and is almost impossible to catch. He spends most of his time sneaking into important buildings and delivering messages for influential thieves.

11. THE HIRED KILLER
Like the assassin except he is not as skilled and often hired to kill easy and poor targets.

12. THE HONOUR THIEF
This symbolises honour among thieves. He always needs a philosophy or excuse to commit crime but he never breaks his word.

13. THE PROTECTER
This criminal offers protection from other thieves to merchants and shopkeepers. Sometimes he has his own men rob a shop so that they feel they need his protection.

14. THE FIGHTER
This guy is an excellent swordsman and is often hired to lead a group of warriors in a less discrete assassination.

15. THE VASSAL THIEF
This is a loyal, strong and skilled thief that lacks imagination. This man will always serve other thieves because he can do everything other than think.

16. THE REBEL
This thief hates the way the hardworking peasants have to work for every scrap of bread while the rich nobles do nothing. He targets nobles and directs thieves under his command in a rebellion against the aristocracy.

17. THE CROSSBOWMAN
This man is held in high esteem for his mastery of the crossbow. He is often hired as an assassin.

18. THE COLLECTOR
This criminal collects protection money for the Protector.

19. THE FENCE
This man is one of many that sell stolen goods on the black market.

20. THE ENFORCER
The Enforcer either maims or kills men who personally insult the Thief master.

21. THE RIVAL THIEF
The second most powerful thief next to the Master Thief, he plots to kill the Master so that he can reign supreme.

22. THE BODYGUARD
The lead protector of the Master Thief who would rather die than fail in his job.

23. THE INFORMANT
This is a spy among the thieves that has caused several people to be arrested. He is also another person in this list.

24. THE SCOUT
The scout is a young girl that checks out the scene of the crime beforehand to make sure everything is safe and that things are running smoothly. She also is the first to see and city guards coming towards one of the thieves’ hideouts.

25. THE SPY
The spy is an informant in the city guard that passes along information.

26. THE DIPLOMAT
This is a thief that negotiates with the city guard and other lawful organisations. He is protected by law as he is the only trusted link to the thieves.

27. THE MASTERMIND
This genius orchestrates huge plots and schemes. He has designed plans for many major robberies including magical objects.

28. THE APPRAISER
This man is an expert on jewellery and magical objects and evaluates them for the fence.

29. THE GOOD THIEF
This guy is a criminal that is like the honour thief except that he does not have any honour. However he has much greater moral standards than the honour thief, all in all is a pretty decent guy. He does not commit violent crime.

30. THE EXPENDIBLE THIEF
He is one among many thieves who are considered expendable. Some may become more useful over time but most do the dirty dangerous work.

In the east is an ancient land steeped in hoary magics and infernal pacts. Beyond the civilized lands of Falhath, beyond the Great Woses lies the witch infested land of Zehin. Centralized around the shattered bulk of the Black Mountain, Zehin spreads to the coastlands to the east and to the craggy heights of the Skyraker Mountains in the west. The northern border is a thick forest, rank and humid in the summer and bitter cold in the winter. This is the abode of the devil known as the Verdant Devil, the Demon of the Wood, or most simply, the Green Devil. Like the Black and White devils of the mountain, the Green devil is imprisoned beneath the Teufel-Grün Forest, and from there, it’s essence has permeated the very soil of the forest.

1. Yggdraal, Lord of the Forest
The ground quivers as Yggdraal stirs, the trees bow to the passage of the self proclaimed forest lord. A beast twenty feet tall, Yggdraal appears as a typical devil, though lacking wings. His body is a vivid emerald green and the scales have a definite leaf shape and pattern to them. The Hierophant of Verdant Order, Yggdraal is the leader of the druids of the Teufel-Grün Forest as well as being the physical avatar of the Green Devil itself. Having the powers of a Tercerian Devil/God as well as mastery of Druidic magics, Yggdraal is more a backstory element than a foe for PCs. When faced, the Lord of the Forest appears in a Wild Form, as a pack of Dire Swine, and as the pack members are injured he is increasingly likely to summon the trees against foes and finally assuming his avatar form only if pressed by a superior foe. More often than not, the Hierophant of Teufel-Grün wanders about dispersed into the forms of roughly a dozen large predators.

2. Blattdirne Green-Leaf
Officially the liaison to Yggdraal, Blattdirne is also a half-devil spawned by the avatar of the Green Devil and a druidic Witch. Tall and willowy, Blattdirne is as firm as old wood and poisonous plants such as nightshade and poison ivy sprout from her hair. The assistant to the Hierophant is on good terms with the leaders of communities bordering the Teufel-Grün forest and handles most of the operations of the Verdant Order. When called into battle, Blattdirne assumes the form of a giant oak tree draped with poisonous plants and can call the attendant dryads and the Loru Valsharris of Teufel-Grün to battle.

3. Maranais the Minstrel
Born of common stock, Maranais had no illusions of becoming great, his mother voyaged to the Shattered Peak once and was not chosen, and his father was the son of a woodcutter. Surrounded by witches and warlocks, the young man took to reclusion in the boughs of the Teufel-Grün where he slowly and arduously taught himself to play a reed flute. At first imitating birds and other animals, he is now quite experienced and can play most songs by ear after hearing them a time or two. One day he simply never left the forest, instead he joined an elder druid as an apprentice and played his music for the forest. Equal parts bard and druid, Maranais is a simple man who loves nature and music.

The Deeping Mire

Located in the eastern region fairly close to the Zehini coast, the Deeping mire is a part of the Teufel-Grün that is as much swamp as it is forest. There are brackish pools of black water and deceptively shallow looking straights full of sucking mud and vast groves of mangrove, reed, and other water loving plant life. Poisonous plants are more common in these boggy region as are reptiles and insects in larger profusion than in the rest of the forest proper.

4. Uuth Swamp Brother
Six foot tall and gnarled as an ancient cedar, Uuth is a troll hermit that has long since taken up refuge among the swamp glades of the Deeping Mire. A cast-out from the Great Woses, Uuth is now content to live out his days in relative peace eating bugs and snakes and swamp fruit. While only a marginal druid in terms of skill, Uuth is a skilled tracker and hunter. He collects things that bubble up from the swamps and as such has amasses a frightening stockpile of Zehini relics and debris in his lair.

5. Nimsghul the Necrophagus
A necromancer and ritualistic cannibal, most of the regular denizens of Teufel-Grün avoid Nimsghul and the swath of marsh that he has since claimed for his own. Shaven headed and immaculately clean, Nimsghul is a frighteningly well educated man, having learned great things from tomes recovered by Uuth. It was also Uuth who brought Nimsghul around to cannibalism and the dark powers inherent in such a blasphemous act. Several times this necromancer has called up hordes from the black slime of the mires to subdue and slaughter foes of the forest. He is a moderately accomplished druid and his necromancy in the end is a ally to the forest.

6. Ormal the Mycologist
Few half-breeds are more reviled than the offspring of humans and dwarves. Born to a human mother, Ormal spent most of his life as an outcaste, called a mule, humpstump, and a plethora of other cruel names. He took up the travelers path, crossed through the Woses, Zehin, and finally found a place to rest in the forest. Along the way, the young half-dwarf discovered the wonders of mushrooms. He would find and sell truffles to nobles, warn children from poisonous caps, or sell those same caps to apothecaries. Now as part of the Verdant Order, Ormal tends fungal gardens growing mushrooms for their hallucinogenic powers, poison, sopophoric spores, and other uses.

7. Gorefinger the Ogre
Not an exile, but rather an idiot, Gorefinger wandered out of the Great Woses and made it to the mire. It was in the mire that the savant ogre got hopelessly lost and eventually gave up trying to go back home. He keeps his own abode where he still makes Buck-Ogre Rum from swampcane and unlucky trespassers. This rum is sold among some of the non-human druids, but most avoid it. Gorefinger and Uuth fight frequently and enthusiastically as masked wrestlers though seldom to any lasting harm.

8. Ainax the Coiling Oracle
Ainax was once a normal female druid, her interest resting in the now extinct Graeae, or the serpent folk. Once masters of sorcery before the time of Zehin’s Ascendancy, they were all slain in an instant during the Nightmare War. Ainax learned to her horror that some secrets should rest with the dead. She was overcome by an ancient Graeae plague that warped her body and mind, turning her into a gruesome hybrid of human and serpent. From the wist up she is a normal woman, but from the waist down she has the body and tail of a swamp viper. She is now the oracle of the Deeping Mire and reads entrails for those brave enough to seek her out.

The Weald

The Weald composes roughly half of the bulk of the Teufel-Grün forest. Predominantly medium forest interspaced with trails and smalls glens it is well suited to being inhabited by a small population not involved in agriculture or ranching. The bulk of the trees are deciduous and about a quarter are fruit bearing. The Weald is criss-crossed by dozens of streams, brooks, and washes that are teeming with ferns, buzzing insects and the like.

9. Dana’a Weald-Son
Born to a human mother, Dana’a is half elven. In typical Zehini fashion regarding the spawn of the elves, Dana’a was left to die on the doorstep of the Teufel-Grün. A chance passing by an elder Druid saved the child from predators and exposure and Dana’a was raised entirely by the Verdant Order and it’s members. He is quite devoted to the Order and views many of the elders with an almost paternal/maternal sense of love. A druid’s druid, Dana’a favors the forest above all and his interpretation of druidic law tends to be rather draconian regarding outsiders.

10. Tavvad Oakenfist
A stalwart protector of the Weald, Tavvad has been patrolling the Teufel-Grün for several decades. In that time, the warrior-druid has sired a family who live in a cottage deep in the Weald, trained a number of martially aspected druids, and fought as an ally to the Zehini, and the ogres of the Woses. Now getting on in his years, Oakenfist has taken his last apprentice and is training him to be his replacement when he retires from active hunting. Tavvad’s wife is also a druid and gathers herbs, makes wild fermented beer and has given him six daughters and three sons.

11. Latsa the Giant
Apprenticed to Tavvad, Latsa is actually a half-giant. He is one of the few to ever wander into Teufel-Grün forest from the north, rather than the seaward coast or south. He appeared one winter bruised, bloody, and half starved, and half mad from the northern ice and sky lights. Given as a charge to Tavvad, Latsa has found a place that he lacked among the giantkin. Almost ten feet tall and as heavy as a bear the half-giant has made great progress in being at peace with the forest as well as with the giantish rage that burns in his half-blood heart. Despite his huge size and weight, Latsa is only about 15 in terms of mental and social development.

12. Vasil the Pretender
Clad in emerald green robes and bearing a staff that is seemingly a half living serpent, Vasil is the very image of the Druid. Images are important to Vasil since illusion and illusion magics are his passion second only to the forest itself. On a serious side, Vasil has used his powers to conceal things that need not be found, or made things appear more dangerous to deter the curious. On a less serious note, more than one druid has been the target of his phantom homunculi; comical caricatures of other druids and known figures roughly a foot tall capering through the woods making strange noises and such.

13. Seedsower the Sprite
Roughly the size of one of Vasil’s homunculi, Seedsower is a sprite that flitters about the forest as a messenger for the druids, as well as carrying small pouches of seeds and spores to distribute in a pattern only obvious to the Sprite. Areas where Seedsower frequents have a strong diversity in plant life as well as bushes and other non-tree plants growing to create hedges, mazes, and barriers. Seedsower himself has a lair in the middle of a glen filled with stinging nettles and briar bushes. This diminutive character has a wandering eye and will spend time stalking attractive women, always staying out of sight, but leaving them flower buds and such.

14. Isil Cut-Horn
Hailing from the alpine meadows, Isil is a Minotaur who was exiled from her ancestral homeland. Having been an herbalist and apprentice apothecary, Isil did not answer the calls to the war moots and for this was censured and later exiled. Broken hearted, the tauress wandered south, ended up on a ship bound for the Malazar coast, and was drawn into another apprenticeship with a Zehini Salve-Maker. Her horns cut, Isil is a striking white minotaur with pale tan spots on her back and neck. Rather than violence, she is curious and surprisingly intelligent.

The Silpion

A small region near the center of the forest, the Silpion is noticable for it’s silver bark birch and ash trees, stands of rowan, and a great silver tower standing in the middle of the wood. The remnants of an ancient city, the tower remains by means of magical protection and serves as the base of operations for a small number of magically minded druids who keep the secret of it’s existence tightly held.

15. Jodah, Verdant Enchanter
It is not uncommon for wizards to keep familiars, it is also fairly common for demons and devils to keep wizards. Desiring sorcerous power but failing to meet the requirements for the Black Devil, Jodah petitioned other entities for patronage. The Green Devil accepted and became Jodah’s patron and absentee mentor. Since that day, Jodah has been indebted to the Green Devil for the mixture of sorcery and druidic magics learned from the archives held within the Silpion tower. But pacts with devils are seldom good for the mortal and when Jodah dies, his spirit will be subsumed into the Green Devil and the best he can then hope for is to be reincarnated as an avatar or liaison for the Green Devil.

16. Mass’sish the Centaur
A large and heavy bodied centaur, Mass’sish is an erudite scholar and one of the most respected mortals within the Verdant Order. Before Jodah, he was the custodian of the Silpion Tower and collected tomes and books and other bits of lore that were dredged up from the swamp, bartered from traders and the like. Now that Jodah attends the tower, the centaur has been roaming further abroad in the forest and seems to be enjoying a semi-retirement. Jovial to a fault, he loves wine, song, and giving pretty girls rides on his back.

The Stoneshoal

To the west, the mountains of Thorondrim rise and eventually themselves give way to the greater crags of the Skyraker range. The Teufel-Grün crawls across thousands of square miles of this rough and broken territory as if the forest has a will to climb the mountains and claim them for the Green Devil itself. In a sense this is true and only the harsh climate and bluff stone face of the mountains have stopped the almost cancerous western growth of the forest.

17. Vaseolith the Awakener
The trees shudder as the Awakener passes overhead, and the predators of mountain and wood alike find refuge. Nearly sixty feet long, the Awakener is a mottled brown and green dragon. Surveying the northern and western boundaries of the Teufel-Grün, the dragon claims a vast swath of forest as it’s own, but has an honorary rank as a member of the Verdant Order, in deference to the might of the Green Devil. While dragonflame is almost forgotten, the Awakener still gathers offerings of gold and gems, it’s favorite being well polished thrar stones.

18. Doyenne Zadha
It is never easy serving two masters, but Zadha does just that. Her alliegance lies with Terat, the Goddess of War, but she has also sworn fealty to the Verdant Order and the Green Devil. A statuesque woman laced with scars and curved war swords, Zadha is equal parts druid and cleric. While her combat abilities are exception, it is the magic that Zadha commands that makes her truly impressive on the field of combat. Calling upon the green sorceries of the wood and heath Zadha excels in summoning natural animals, especially predators such as wolves, bears, and the like. On the War Goddess side, she heals with a burning touch, inspires her followers to unquenchable bloodlust and slays that which is foul and unnatural. Jodah currently considers Zadha to be his largest rival.

19. Hasimel Long-Fang
Beyond the Woses, Orcs are rare. Indeed most of the goblinoid peoples are found to the west and to the south beyond the mountains. Hasimel traveled around the Horn of Falhath as a slave aboard a merchant freighter bound for the Malazar coast. As soon as no one was looking, Hasimel bolted and fled into the forest and hide to the best of his skill. Reclusive and shy, this castrated orc turned slave now serves under Zadha as a scout and messenger. His mastery of druidic magic is considered poor, but he has a special knack for communication with plants not matched by most druids.

20. Liath the Guide
Appearing in the desolate heaths of the west, Liath looks very much the part of the helpful mountain-druid. He carries a staff and has a green cloak and a necklace of wild animal teeth and claws. This is an illusion as Liath is a bound earth spirit that claims a single mountain as his domain. Those who offer proper respect and chimiage are given proper guidance as proscribed by the tenets of the Verdant Order. Those who do not, or those who willingly trespass are lead astray into a dead end grotto with dead falls and tricky ravines where Liath reveals his horrific true Rakshasa-esque form to feed on their life force.

Rabican Village

Situated in the south-eastern portion of the forest, well south of the swamplands, Rabican village is technically part of the Weald. It is the largest concentration of inhabitants in the forest as well as the seat of the Verdant Order and the site of the Green Devil’s only shrine, the Wooden Orb. At most a hundred or so beings call the village home and most of these are either skilled artisans devoted to the Order’s cause, or the elderly or pregnant; those not quite capable of surviving in small groups or alone in the forest.

21. Kolbyln the Brewer
Born and raised in the leafy boughs of the wood, Kolbyln is a satyr of typical disposition. Often going by the moniker ‘Furpants’, Kolbyln spends most of his time in the village but occasionally can be found across the Weald and into the Stoneshoal. He is primarily a collector of wild grapes and other grains and fruits for his experiments in fermentation. As a brewer he is quite skilled, but is heavily limited by the quantity of goods he can procure. His druidic skills are mostly used for passing unnoticed and encouraging wild grapes to grow better in the wild. He loves music, and even moreso, attractive women.

22. Light Fingers Bertrall
Things got dicey for Bertrall after he pulled off one of the greatest thefts in Falhathian history. Breaking into the Wizard’s Cache, he liberated a large amount of gold and precious gems before the Wizards were alerted to his presence. He barely escaped with his life, let alone pockets full of jewels and platinum. He fled dozens of trackers and bounty hunters, scampering north through Soixane, the Woses, and even Zehin before finding refuge in the forest. A few trackers sought him, but after giving half of his jewels to Vaseolith, the Dragon eliminated his stalkers. Still wizard marked, Bertrall can never leave the forest, and has found a small place there by adopting the green cloak and using his old thieving skills to entertain.

23. Gorem Mossbeard
Standing in the center of Rabican village, Gorem is considered to be the elder of the village in basically in charge even though he is a tree. Gorem was once a shepard of trees, but has entered the later years of a very long life and has set his roots down. No longer mobile, the tree lord is still able to observe and speak, and the villagers now seek his council in various matters as their tree lord has the benefit of centuries of knowledge without the presence of arrogance which so often comes from long life. He has a small vice in that he enjoys beer, but to do so a keg must dumped out on his roots. After which his branches droop and his normal booming voice becomes slurred and he takes a notion to sing old Entish songs.

24. Oathsworn Begad
Begad’s cloak is white as the snow that falls on the Shattered Peak, and his mail shines like ice under moonlight. Years ago this man swore his service to the White Devil, the mistress of cold and the healing touch. Now many years later he has found himself married to a druidess and residing in the forest, dispensing the healing and cold justice of the White Devil beneath the branches of the Green Devil’s wood. Most of the druids and forest folk find him to be pedantic and aloof, but do not deny that his sword has been of great service to the forest. He has learned the basics of herbalism and forest lore and is an honorary druid.

25. Daughter Rowan
Most of the men of the Weald and Rabican village consider Daughter Rowan to be one of the most eligible females under Teufel-Grün’s green canopy. The child of a venerable druid and a deep forest dryad, she was born from the forest itself but has all the loveliness of a mountain-born maiden. An exemplary druid at the age of 15 she has demonstrated that one day she will sit among the elders of the Verdant Order. Should it be learned that Daughter Rowan despises her human attributes and has taken a silent vow of chastity it would dash the hearts of her many paramours.

The Darkheart

Deep in the forest is the Darkheart region, well north of the Weald and west of the Deeping Mire. It is rumored that the corporeal elements of the Green Devil are buried somewhere in this region, and it is the source of the Teufel-Grün forest. Deep under the soil is a pulsated green clathrate that bubbles with raw green essence. This is the ancient heart of the forest and the Green Devil draws much of his strength from the clathrate. The Darkheart is home to some of the more nefarious members of the Verdant Order.

26. Nicktuku the Vampire
Almost as old as Gorem, Nicktuku was a druid ages ago when he received his initiation into the ranks of the living dead. now considering himself a brother to bats, the druid turned vampire is an undead sentinel in the deepest and darkest parts of the forest. Unlike some other vampires who ape civility, Nicktuku is monstrous, spending most of his time as a bloated bat like creature feeding on the blood of forest animals and the unwary. Feeding from the forest for as long as he has, the vampire has long since gained immunity to wooden stakes through the heart. If recently fed and approached during the daytime, he is considered safe to talk to.

27. Shasl the Silent
Formerly a member of a wandering tinker-gypsy camp, Shasl saw the worst of humanity when a band of arrogant Gold Talon guards assaulted his camp at dusk. Most of his family and friends were murdered, their wagons set aflame, and their bodies left for the vultures. The remnants of the band headed north, away from Sangreal and without a guide lost their bearings and foundered just south of the forest. Shasl fled into the boughs of the trees and was adopted by a druid scout. Indoctrinated in wood lore, Shasl perfected his skills of stalking, and learned the poisoners art. Decades later, he practices his art with cold efficiency eliminating the enemies of the forest. Shasl is one of the few druids to regularly leave the forest for any length of time.

28. Sarah, Wyrmcaller
A quietly beautiful woman of mixed heritage, Sarah has long been at home in the forest. There have always been special men and women who have a way with animals, relating more easily to them than their fellow humans. Sarah has such a way with animals, though her talent is unique in that the animals that she shares the closest kinship to are the five to eight meter long forest wyrms. Tipping the scales at at almost two tons each, these wyrms are the apex predators of the forest and thankfully are only active during the summer and early fall of each year. Sarah can call to them and when they come, she is able to control them to suit her needs.

29. Estarque, Maiden of Ashes
Capricious and wild, Estarque is one of the true enigmas of the Teufel-Grün. She has the hindquarters of a large deer combined with the torso and arms of an attractive human female. Stranger still, she has a large pair of dark tawny wings growing from her back which give her a limited ability to glide, though her ability to climb is less than average. Created from the remnants of several creatures, Estarque is somewhere between being a fey creature and a flesh golem. Years of bathing in the hoary essence of the forest has given this once mongrel creature a new vitality and life. The Green Devil reincarnated a fallen druidess into the shell of the creature and within a short time, the spirit of Estarque altered the new body to fit her better.

30. Carvegil the Druid
Carvegil was raised in a small village near the forest, and as he was coming of age, he was disillusioned with the creations of man and was drawn to the power of nature. At an early age he donned the green cloak and began an apprenticeship to the local druid as a student of herbalism and foraging. Now older, he carries a vine twisted staff and calls upon singbirds as messengers and listens to the trees tell their tales. Wisened, but wary he is a generous soul, so long as the forest is respected.

Most of the 30 submissions are independent lists of archetypes and sample plug and play characters. As I pondered on the work of the 30 Druids submission, the druids refused to stand alone, instead they kept working towards a cohesive whole. This in a way makes sense as druids would work together to protect the interests of their parent order as well as the boundaries of their arboreal home.

This Jester is the Jester that other Jesters wish they could be. He has a huge repertoire of jokes and riddles, and just as important, a great source of timing, seeming to read the mind of his audience mind and know exactly what is needed to make him, her or them laugh. He might occasionally perform a practical joke when he knows it will be funny, and because of his sense of timing, it always works. Other kings have asked the king who employs him to be allowed to buy his services, but the king will not hear of it because he enjoys his company too much.

2-Very Unfunny

This jester is not good at his job at all, and if he does not improve quickly he will be sacked. He has many jokes, but some just are not funny, others border on the obscene, and with others its just that he tells them badly. Without a good sense of timing, his practical jokes have been disastrous, as he played them at the wrong time and on the wrong people, and was lucky not to be beaten or thrown into the royal dungeon. However hard he tries, he just cannot make people laugh at all, and most people think that he is in the wrong profession.

3-Practical Joker

This jester is a master of practical jokes of all kinds, but is rather lacking in other kinds of jokes. However, he happens to serve a baron who loves practical jokes, as long as they are not played on him, his wife, or important castle guests. He has put things on the tops of doors, replaced the labels on hot and cold buckets of water, put things into beds, and put spiky things on peoples chairs, amongst other things. Not surprisingly, he his deeply disliked by many of the castle staff, but they know the baron will be furious if his jester is harmed or killed. Should the baron die, it is likely that his jester will not long survive him.

4-Secret Agent (for the King)

This jester travels widely and performs at other royal courts and baronial castles. He is funny, polite, popular and well known. What is not known to all but a few people is that he is a secret agent who smuggles out messages from other deep-cover agents, who can meet with him without arousing the suspicion of those who they are spying on. He is well paid for the work by the King personally, who has instilled in him the belief that he is greatly helping the country with his clandestine activities.

5-Assassin

What better cover for an assassin whose target is a well-guarded and powerful head of state, then the job of a jester? On the surface, this jester is one of the funniest people in the kingdom, but he has a secret life as one of The Candles of God His plan is that at the wedding of the kings daughter, which is a state occasion at which all the most powerful nobles of both the kingdom and the neighbouring kingdom will be present, he will detonate himself, slaughtering everybody nearby him, and plunging both kingdoms into turmoil and probable civil war as, with both the royal families exterminated, ambitious nobles fight for the vacant royal thrones.

6-Secret Agent (against the King)

This jester is also a secret agent, but in this case he betrays the king that he serves. He has discovered a few secrets by secretly listening with his ear pressed to the door. As the jester, he is one of a few with access granted at once to the kings private apartments. He has also been given messages by other traitors, which he passes on at the earliest possible opportunity. The kings spymaster suspects him and has told the king, but the king totally refuses to believe that his jester is a traitor and has told his spymaster to shut up.

7-Public Jester

The king who employs this jester has decided that he should not only entertain the royal court, but the people too. Partly this is because the economy of the kingdom is bad, and one of the ways to keep discontent amongst the ordinary people is to keep them happy. Also the king is a fun loving person and thinks that others should enjoy themselves as much as he does. He is doing as well with the crowds as he was with the king and has become wildly popular with the people.

8-Singer of Songs

Not all entertainment is of the funny kind that makes people roar with laughter. This man is a singer of the songs and the ballads of old, and he can make people feel that they are living the lives of those who he sings about. There are those who are jealous of him, and one or two would happily slip lye into his tea if they could. His food and drink are tasted by the royal food taster to prevent this happening.

9-On the Run

Andrew Wells used to be the royal jester, but was framed by his enemies and thrown into prison for life. To avoid being beaten or worse, he made the other inmates, amongst who were many members of The Regulators laugh as well. Then there was a prison breakout and he was amongst the prisoners who escaped. Now he wears the colours of the gang, keeps them amused, and against his will takes part in their criminal activities.

10-Satirist

This jester is a master of satire and delights in mocking the nobles, which for some reason the king finds very funny. The nobles on the other hand are far from amused and hate him with a passion, but they dare not attack him as he never goes all that far from the king. And to draw a sword (other then on a battlefield) in front of the king is high treason and could get the offenders hand chopped off or worse. He knows how much the nobles hate him and is wary and always expecting an attack.11-Cheering a Mournful Queen

After the princess in the royal family that he serves died of a fast growing cancer, this jester is on duty almost 24/7 to try and keep the Queen happy, and the stress is getting to him. He has almost run out of jokes and ballads and acceptable practical jokes, and is not getting enough sleep. He fears the consequences when he can no longer to his job properly will be dire. Unknown to him, the king has secretly hired Dracia Eldren to persuade/force another girl to take on the role of the dead princess, which will enable him to finally rest.

12-Depressed

In public he is a barrel of laughs, as he should be, but the only time he ever smiles is when he is doing his job. Privately he is deeply depressed to the point where he has seriously considered committing suicide. He lives alone in his own room and when he is sure he is alone, he often breaks down in tears.

13-Sherazade

This jester was implicated and then convicted in a plot against the king that he serves. The sentence was beheading and the king himself decided to come and watch the execution. With only a short time before his death, the executioner managed to make the king laugh. In fact, he managed to make the king laugh so much that the king decided to put the execution off for a day. That was a thousand days ago.

Since then the jester has managed to keep the king amused so much that the execution keeps on being put off. When he ran out of funny jokes, he started a long and interesting story, which always reaches a really good bit just when the executioner shows up to behead him. Not wanting to leave the story unfinished the king always postpones the execution for yet another day.

14-Jester In Training

This jester is the son of the Very Funny who is teaching him the skills of timing, joking and how to make people laugh in general. He is ambitious and wants to be as funny as his illustrious father, although he still has a long way to go before he can be that good. He still fumbles things at times but then he is still learning his trade.

15-Truth Teller

With the kingdom ruled by a brutal and autocratic monarch who keeps the royal headsman busy, who is there who dares to tell him the truth when things are going wrong? The royal jester, because he is so popular with the king, and because he tells him the news when the king is in a very good mood. The king likes somebody who is not constantly flattering him all the time and can point out when something is a grossly bad idea. Without that he would be effectively blind to what is really going on in his kingdom. In fact, the regent is the true ruler of the kingdom and it is he who orders the executions.

16-Acrobat

This man has walked wires over hot pools in the Sorcery Springs Geyser Basin, between the towers of Castle Strelock and other such places where a fall would mean death. Whilst most of his acrobatics have the approval of the authorities, not all do and he has served at least one prison sentence for his aerial antics and his dedication to what he does.

17-Secret Bodyguard

This entertainer has secretly been expertly trained in both armed and unarmed combat and serves two jobs-jester and secret bodyguard. He can go where it would not be diplomatically right to take conventional bodyguards, such as to important peace talks where too many conventional bodyguards might not send a bad image. He has saved the life of his employer at least once and is well paid for his troubles.

18-Former Royal Pretender

This man dared to try and take over the throne of Vallermoore and was beaten in battle. Whilst his co-conspirators who were captured alive were executed by hanging, Queen Yocasta decided to humiliate him and made him first the scullion and then promoted him to jester, with a suspended death sentence in case he tries anything he shouldnt do. This once proud and haughty general now has to entertain the castle children.

19-Dwarf Jester

Many kings and nobles entertain dwarves as entertainers and this one is regarded as one of the best of them. Other dwarves have varied views of them, with some thinking he is letting the side down with his antics, and others thinking he has done very well for himself, and that it is a better job then sweating over a hot forge, serving in the army, chipping out jewels in a deep dark mine and other typically dwarfish occupations.

20-Average

Whilst he is not the funniest person around, nor is he the worst. He does his best and bumbles through well enough to earn his keep, with a few cheers and a few boos and his performances.

21-Agent Provocateur

This jester secretly urges people to commit treason and then reports them to the royal authorities so that they end up in The Grinder or worse. Whilst the king privately dislikes this behaviour, he lets it continue so as to weed out the discontented and disloyal ones before they really do start plotting against him.

22-Riddler

This girl is an expert at telling riddles, and finding out the riddles of others, both for fun, and in a riddle game as a form of gambling where the price may be high for the one who fails.

23-The Human Puppet

This entertainer is being secretly controlled as part of The String and has been used to entertain his captors and others as well as for darker purposes, to steal things or murder people. He longs to tell people what has happened to him but is unable to do that or to break free of the enchantment.

24-Puppeteer

The skill of this entertainer is with ornate puppets with which he tells the tales and legends of long ago. He is popular and on festival days often plays to large crowds of people.

25-Doctors Orders

This dedicated doctor and skilled surgeon also thinks that laughter can sometimes be the best medicine and often, when he has some free time, entertains his patients, thinking that by making them happy they will heal faster. Certainly many of his patients have indeed healed faster then normal, but perhaps this is because of his famed medical skills.

26-Jaded Jester

Secretly, this jester has grown bored of his position and despises his employers. What he really yearns to be, more then anything else, is a City Guard, chasing down criminals and patrolling the streets, but in his country, the laws are strict. Everybody from the Emperor at the top to the poorest employed person at the bottom, has to do the job that their father or mother did, as has been the way for centuries. And he happens to come from a long line of hereditary jesters. Since if he flees and is caught the punishments are fearsome, he feels he has no choice but to do a job he sees no point in.

27-The Noble Comedian

This nobleman lives in a country where it is possible to do different occupations to the one you are born into, and he has decided to make people laugh. His parents are furious with him and have threatened to disown and disinherit him if he does not give his, to them, vulgar, ways. But he finds it far more fun entertaining people then holding court as a noble. He wants people to like him, not fear him.

28-Imposter
The real jester has been kidnapped and bound and gagged, be it as part of an assassination plot, or an attempt to get an inside man into the castle to carry out a kidnapping or a daring robbery, and this man has taken his place. Unlike the Assassin, whose skills are genuine, he is both untrained and nervous, and fears that he will give himself away and end up facing the many Torture Devices and Techniques that the dungeon guards possess to gain information from the unwilling.

29-Fireworker

This man works with fireworks and has a special license to possess and, on the right days, set off, even the largest ones there are. He takes great pride in his work and has produced some fantastic spectacles. He has a darker side though, and is not above selling illegal fireworks to the public if they are willing to pay him enough. Eyes and hands have been lost as a result when inexperienced people lit fireworks wrongly or stupidly messed about with them.

30-Homeless Jester

Evicted from his house because he could not earn enough to pay the mortgage, now he has to entertain people in the street to get enough money to eat. Hassled both by the police, who keep on moving him on from town to town, and by criminals who prey on him and extort a percentage of his daily takings, he barely makes enough to get by and is always hungry.

1- Brains
He knows everything possible about fires-how they are started, how they spread and how to put them out. He can also tell an accidental or nature-started fire from one that was started deliberately. Recently he has detected numerous cases of arson and he suspects one of his fellow fire-fighters of being the arsonist. He has so far kept this to himself however, as he has no proof yet to blame anyone.

2-Lazy
All too often he turns up for work late, blaming the traffic or other people for his lateness. The Captain is firmly convinced that he is not doing his job properly and wants to sack him, but as Lazy is the son of the town mayor and has other important and rich political connections he has no choice but to keep him on the payroll. When Lazy does work he is reasonably competent.

3-Romeo
One of the reasons why Romeo joined the fire service was because he thought it would give him a better chance to find women and date them. He has two girlfriends, neither of whom know about the other woman, and has had a string of one night stands. If he has a choice to rescue a man or a reasonably attractive woman, he will always rescue the woman first.

4-Brawn
Physically the toughest and strongest of the towns fire-fighters, Brawn moonlights as a bouncer for one of the towns largest club and likes a fight, although he is not the type to hit anybody for no reason. On the job he is the first one on the scene when a door needs hacking sown with an axe or something heavy needs to be shoved out of the way.

5-Lawyer
Lawyer has studied his contract and all the rules and laws that fire-fighters have to follow, and he follows them to the letter. Even if it might be necessary to break the rules to save a life, Lawyer wont do it. Consequently he is not the most popular person in the team, and Captain would like to let him go, but he cant, as Lawyer is always careful not to give any reason to sack him.

6-Jolly
Jolly always seems to be cheerful even when things are going wrong for him. His happiness is infectious and he is a great asset to the team and one of the Captains best friends. He is always helpful to his fellow fire-fighters and to civilians alike, both on and off duty. A joke said about him is that one of these days he is going to die laughing.

7-Custer
Custer is in some ways the opposite of Lawyer. Whilst Lawyer is pedantic and slow, Custer is always ready to risk his life and charge into everything, be it a raging fire, a gas leak or a major disaster. He has no time for the Lazy and thinks the Lawyer should be in another job. The Captain likes him but fears he is too impetuous and one day will get himself and others into a danger that cant be escaped from.

8-Teacher
Teacher always volunteers to be the one who goes out to schools to teach children about the dangers of fire and is passionate when warning them. When he was a child his younger brother made the mistake of playing with matches and the family house caught fire and burned down. Teacher and his father got out alive but the younger brother and mother burned to death before help arrived.

9-Warden
Warden, like Teacher, also believes greatly in educating people about the dangers of fire but he is much more pushy and in your face about it. He hates illegal fireworks and sees them as the bane of his existence, and will not hesitate to report to the police anybody that he sees letting them off. Indeed, he insists that they arrest the offenders and wishes he was a policeman as well as a fireman. His mailbox once had a firecracker put through it that incinerated all his mail including his winning lottery ticket.

10-Thief
Whilst Thief has never and will never start a fire deliberately, he is not above pilfering money and certain pieces of jewellery, or paperwork that can be used for identity theft later, and then saying to its owners that it was tragically consumed in the fire and then keeping it for his own use. He is very careful to avoid getting caught and has been commended for bravery more then once.

11-Scarface
He was caught in a particularly big forest fire that he was fighting and a burning branch fell on his head. His helmet saved his life and he was rescued by his fellow fire-fighters but not before his cheeks were burned. When they healed they itched and he scratched them open, causing dreadful scarring. Despite this he has stayed at his job, to save others from suffering his fate or much worse.

12-Fireworker
This fire-fighter has an interesting and illegal way to boost his finances. He secretly makes large numbers of illegal firecrackers and other fireworks and then sells them to anyone with the money to pay for them, even young children. He thinks if they injure anyone it is their own fault for buying them in the first place and if a fire is caused then it is more work and pay for him.

13-Heil
Within this fire-fighters mind the dark fires of racism burn. As a secret Klansman he has placed and lit fiery crosses in more then one persons backyard in the dead of night, and is always fractionally slower in helping a non-white person, not slow enough to cause suspicion. If faced with the choice to save the life of a black or a white person he would always choose the white person.

14-Rumour
Whilst on the job he always tries his best, off duty this fire-fighter gets his kicks by secretly spreading rumours and outright lies about civilians and fellow fire-fighters alike. Some are mildly annoying like the time he let the news out online that a July the 4th firework display would take place on Yellowstone Lake. Others are far more serious like when he spread the rumour that a civilian was in witness protection and was in fact a mafia defector hiding in plain sight. A few days later the civilian was found dead with a bullet in the back of the head. Luckily for Rumour the police did not find out who started that particular rumour.

15-Sycophant
His chief fault is that he is always sucking up to the Captain and to others in positions of power, agreeing with whatever they say, making tea and food for them, agreeing to spy on others for them. The Captain finds him irritating but knows that he does have his uses. Sycophant hopes that one day he will be a big boss and then people will suck up to him, until then he carries on being a bootlicker.

16-Xena
As the first woman to join the brigade, Xena feels herself under great pressure to prove herself as good as any man. When off duty she has short hair, wears mannish clothes and not much jewellery. Because of this, and after he asked her out for a date and was turned down, Rumour spread the word amongst his fellow fire-fighters that Xena was a lesbian.

17-Scabies
Scabies was the first fire-fighter to arrive at a large fire at a chemical plant and the smoke that drifted over him before he could suit up properly irritated his skin. Scratching at first chased the itch away but then made it worse until he tore his skin open trying to get rid of it. Captain does not want to sack Scabies as he sees him as a capable fire-fighter, but wants him to go on medical leave for a few days.

18-Union
Union is a political left winger who believes in the power of the working man and wants his fellow fire-fighters to go on strike for more pay. Captain wants Union sacked but fears that the rest of his team might walk out if that happens and then lives and property might be lost to fire. Captain also does not want to make himself unpopular with the rest of the brigade.

19- Braggart
Braggart is a capable fire-fighter with many genuine acts of bravery to his name. The problem is, he cant help bragging about it in the pub and making what he did seem a lot more dangerous and heroic then it really is. When in civilian dress off duty he wears a medal that he claims that he earned during the 9/11 attacks that in fact he brought off E-Bay.

20-Arsonist
On the surface Arsonist is one of the best in the team, always happy and willing to drop anything he is doing and rush off and fight fires. Unknown to his companions, except for Brains who suspects him but cant prove anything, he is fascinated with fire and joined the fire service to get close to as many fires as possible. Not content with that he has begun secretly setting houses alight. He has a chest in his home filled with the news reports of the fires that he has set.

21-Perfect
This fire-fighter always does his best. He is the one who polishes his helmet until it gleams and makes sure his uniform is cleaner then everyone else. Drill Sergeant is his best friend but many of his fellow fire-fighters resent him and think that he is deliberately trying to make them look bad compared to him. He longs for a promotion.

22-Looney
This fire-fighter was hit by the same falling tree branch that injured Scarface whilst fighting a fire in a national park. His helmet saved his skull from being fractured, but now he has constant nightmares by night and disturbing visions and hallucinations by day. Some of these visions come true but most dont and he has no idea which will be true and has told nobody about them in case they think he has gone mad.

23-Imposter
He talks the talk but Captain is worried that he might not be able to walk the walk. The Captain is right to be worried, for Impostors files and glowing letters of recommendation are well-made forgeries. Impostor never even spent a day training at the fire fighting academy and has no idea of how to put out different types of fires-he would just squirt water on them no matter what kind they are. With some kinds of fires that will put them out, but other kinds of fires will just flare up more or spread to new areas.

24-Ego
Whilst competent, Ego boasts a lot about the fires he has fought and the people he has rescued, and considers himself to be superior to civilians. He is Boasters best friend and a good friend of Custer, dislikes Impostor and thinks (ironically, probably rightly) that he should be thrown out of the fire service, and puts Xenas back up with his frankly sexist views.

25-Drill Sergeant
The deputy commander of the station, Drill Sergeants job is to make sure that all is spick and span, orders are obeyed promptly and that everyone is at his post. With a foul temper and little patience or toleration for failure, he is heartily disliked by most of the brigade. He likes Perfect, one of the few people that he respects for his devotion to duty, and totally despises Lazy.

26-Hungry
Hungry is good-natured and always ready to do his job, but his problem is his weight. He eats far too much and a lot of what he eats is fattening food, leading Captain and Drill Sergeant to think that he is too far for the fire service and a liability. He is firm friends with Lawyer and Union, who have threatened a legal challenge and a strike respectively on their friends behalf and so far kept his job safe.

27-Coward
Although he has been able to cover it up so far, Coward is just that, a coward. He invents reasons to hang back when the flames are particularly severe or when someone needs rescuing. There are times when he has switched off his walkie-talkie and pretended that it broke, so he wont get orders that might put him in harms way. Sooner or later his pretended bravery will be exposed as just a sham.

28-Music
Always when not on duty whistling, listening to music or humming a tune, Music has dreams of someday resigning for the fire service to become a big time pop star. Several members of the brigade find him irritating but Xena, although she has so far kept it a secret, has a crush on him. He often spends his free time writing songs or playing a tune on his mouth organ.

29-Grumble
Every large organization has its resident malcontent, and Grumble is the one in this brigade. He grumbles about almost everything from the food to the pay, the bosses to the danger the fire-fighters have to put themselves in. Some of his complaints have their merits, whilst others are a waste of time. He always keeps within the rules and never goes over the top about stuff. He is useful as a *canary*- when others join him in his grumbling then the problem is generally a serious one.

30-Captain
With twenty years of experience fighting all manner of fires and dealing with other disasters, Captain has well and truly earned is rank and is the most capable man there. He has never met a problem that he and his fellow fire-fighters could not sooner or later contain and deal with. He genuinely cares for the well-being and safety of his team and is proud of the majority of them.

The Mata Hari The Queen Bee. Not a true flesh-peddler, though her physical wiles and lascivious encounters were the stuff of legend. She was not averse to use sex as a weapon by any stretch of the imagnation. She is the Uber-Spy, making her way through kingdoms, courts, and audience chambers, mingling with the leaders of society, immersing herself in politics, and working as a double or even triple agent. Everyone wants her. No one truly knows her.

The Phryne A famous courtesan of Highest Society, she always has her price, but adjusts her prices based on how she feels about individuals emotionally, sometimes it is free. She is the highly educated, refined, half-a-flesh-peddler, half-a-Lady-Who-Lunches.

The-Hooker-With-The-Heart-Of-Gold She had a few bad breaks in life, a few wrong turns, and now finds herself in her current profession. But if the right PC came along, or if it came down to profit or ‘listening to her heart’, no contest. Helpful and sacrificing every time!

The Newbie/Prude “Be gentle! Its my first time. Do we have to do that?! Yuck!”

The Impersonator Quite adept at subtle disguise, muted lighting, and mannerisms which attempt to mimic that of an elf, or other exotic, in-demand races.

The Gang of Dopplegangers Perhaps the most dreaded of all prostitutes in large, cosmopolitan cities, many an adventurer has bedded one of these creatures, none the wiser. A bigger operation could involve an actual doppleganger pleasure palace…“Sleep with anyone you desire..just describe the person in detail! Or how about someone famous?”

The Jack-the-Ripper’s Type These are the bawdy, raunchy, often slovenly, and always poor and destitute ladies akin to the streetwalkers of the fog-filled Victorian docks, alleys, and pubs. They are often found murdered or conversely, are able to provide invaluable street information. “Oy, Guv’ner, a bit o’ poony for a pence?”

The Pear-Blossom, She-Who-Sighs-Pleasures Perhaps most exotic of all, evoking distant lands and times, this is the member of a Harem, the pleasure-slave of rulers, governed and defended by eunuchs and usually leopards. Some concubines acquired near-mythic attributes through tales and legends revolved around the famous ones. The price of a ruler’s “prized” concubine was often astronimical.

The Nightfox This is the master swindler. She will sleep with you, but rob you blind, without you even realizing it. Her ploys and schemes may be basic, or well-planned out tactics, with long-term goals of super-purloinment.

The Rosy-Cheeked Madame Likable, pleasant, clever, almost matronly, this is the woman who dispenses the talent but does not herself participate. Instead, she hobnobs with the customers, searches out new talent, and keps peace in the henhouse. Its impossible not to like her. She’s so darn friendly and understanding, and accomodating to customers.

The Specialist This is the niche expert. No matter what your miserable vice is, there is a specialist to be found. The good ones develop quite distinct reputations by word of mouth.

The Hermaphrodite Not a true specialist, since this condition isnt chosen as a profession, this is that mysterious creature of nature, which some cultures consider taboo, while others consider divine. The good ones can easily pass for either sex.

The Aileen Wuornos This one is bad, bad news. Due to her life experiences and psyche, this is a stone-cold killer of men. Motive? Thats the scray part. Her motive is that your a male, you should be slowly tortured and killed. She lures victims with prostitution, and buries their remains where they cannot be found. She is also quite capable of eating your remains. No mess, no fuss.

The St. Paulies Girl This is the anti-Aileen Wuornos. Pleasant company indeed! The quintessential tavern server, with golden locks, and heaving bossoms spilling over her corset. Her smile is warm and infectious, and her buttocks is frequently pinched. Sometimes she’ll shag for money, sometimes she wont. But even if she turns you down, she’ll do it with a gentle, happy smile, leaving you feeling…happy. Her talent of swigging a multitude of ale mugs is legendary.

The Whore of Babylon “the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” (Rev. 17:1-2 KJV). A being of supreme evil in ancient Christian and Rastafarian sects.

The Slattern This one loves her job too much, if thats possible. She charges very little, has no hang-ups or distastes, and will often not charge anything.

The Giggolo The handsome, smooth, sly, con-artist (usually). A lover of women, especially those a bit older, a bit richer, and a bit more titled. Cassanova, Romeo, Lothario, and Don Juan, all rolled up into one.

The Desperado The drug-addicted. She is a mess. Her addcition is slowly destroying her. She will do anything to get that next fix. Men often fall into this lamentable category as well.

The Midnight Cowboy The tragic John Voigt character in the movie of the same name. A poor, confused run-away who resorts to selling himself on the mean streets.

The Political Scandal Queen This is a woman of a certain profession, who manages either malevolently, ambitiously, or unknowingly to plunge herself in the midst of an awful scandal, often involving nobles, young heirs, shocked mothers and fathers, media frenzies, secrets, betrayals, and blackmail. This revrberating ripple can even bring down a government.

The Diseased and Highly Contagious This is the afflicted. They suffer (and spread) awful viruses and maladies. Some are embarrasing, some annoying, some painful, some deadly. Nuff said.

The Sexual Ninja ummm…you know the type. Tight, tight, tight, bodysuit, killer heels, killer-eyes, katana in hand. A Yakuza dragon tattoo down her thigh. She is a contract assasin, whose cover or modus operandi is working as a high-priced call girl.

The Dirty Half-Orc The dirty orc is a half breed, and has been slowly degraded and destroyed by years of prostitution. As a result, there is no act to base, no vice to vile for this prostitute. For her the revolting is normal, kindness is a cruel ruse, and mercy is a game played by the merciless.

The Pimp, Mr. Whitefolks The name pimp conjures up all the appropriate imagery and detail. These are the brutes of the sex trade, coralling their victimized marks into stables, and protecting their investments and turfs, like fighting roosters.

The Geisha The penultimate dancer, musician, and artist, as well as male entertainer. A submissive, yet rigid mistress of her ancient profession. She goes way beyong the sexual, providing complete mental and physical satisfaction.

The Whoremongering Slaver Usually obese, bare-chested, bald and hairless, these men are fond of cat-o’-nine tails and studded whips. They are usually greasy, ugly, and highly unpleasant. They are often either coming from or going to some distant exotic land by ship or by caravan, with wretched and mistreated slaves, both girl and boy, both of age and not. The slaver is of course a cruel master and sadist. The Slaver differs from the Pimp, in that the Slaver is a classic fantasy rpg foil. A bad guy everyone loves to hate.

The Heidi Fleiss & The Sidney Biddle Barrows Somewhere between Rosy-Cheeked Madame and Pimp, this is the calculating, manipulative business-woman, who herself has little love of the physical aspects of her profession, but is an entrepeneur extraordinaire. The latter of the two, is aristocratic and gentile, while the former hip and modern.

The Nymphomaniac The pleasure-seeker, she is the greatest one of her kind. While the Slattern is usually just bored or desirous of affection or attention, the nymph, is completely and fully obsessed with sex. Licentious and wanton

The Girl Next Door This is the ingenue who mesmerizes a PC, and seems properly innocent, carefree, and lovely. In reality, she is desperately looking for a way out of her predicament, the sordid world of the sex-trade. There are usually dangerous people after her, and whichever sap is smitten by her. Their is often stolen money involved. She’s a user, but its not impossible for her to cast away her ‘evil ways’, with the help of a kindly putz, and sometimes, the PC and the tramp fall in love.

The Arm Candy Paid to be seen with. What happens in private with the client varies. The important thing is that she is seen as a trophy, a prize. Bragging rights for the rich, old, ugly and bald men of the world. She is often required to pass for a wife and noblewoman, and has the acquired skill of being able to ‘talk-the-talk’.

The Disgraced & Vanquished She is the former heiress or countess of a ravaged land, now participating in the once-unthinkable and unimaginable. Often in history, when one group of people conquered another, as an exclamation point, the victors would force or sell the noble wives and daughters into slavery, particularly of the sexual variety. This was a final slap on the face for the vanquished.

The Succubus & Incubus The ubiquitous demonic and half-demonic purveyers of lust and destruction. These well-known, but little understood creatures, frequently take the form of human harlots and giggolos, particularly in large cities, when bored or feeling especially mischievious. What may come of these horrid unions between the Mocking-Lust of the Abyss and human flesh, is anyone’s guess.

What is a Henchman?
In the original context, a henchman was the retainer who cared for a lord’s horse, literally a groom. The term hechman comes from the old english word Hengst, which in turns comes from the german word for horse. In more modern literary and game conventions the role of the Henchman is generally any role subordinate to either the primary villain, or the PCs and their direct allies. Unless soldier types or ‘elite’ henchmen, the general henchman is not going to be a match for even a single PC. The strength of the henchman comes from either specialization, or from massed numbers.

The Goon
The principle Henchman is the Goon. Combat skills tend to be the Goon’s main skill and most are chosen for their ability to fight and follow orders with a minimum of fuss.

1. The Willing Goon
This goon, likely a large bruiser with sunken knuckles and a penchant for fighting signed on as a henchman with little bargaining required. As a minion of the villain, the Willing Goon is the eager henchman ready to brawl at a moment’s notice. The Willing Goon seldom works alone as he tends to have a good number (1D4+1) of other Willing Goons working with him.

2. The Coerced Goon
The opposite of the Willing Goon, the Coerced Goon is working against his will. Most often the minion of a the villain, this goon has a loved one held hostage, is bespelled, or only follows orders out of fear for the villain’s wrath. Captured enemy minions can be forceably recruited by PCs and function as coerced goons. Coerced Goons generally require regular pressure to keep them working, and they also tend to be sullen, moody, and likely canditates for traitors.

3. The Inept Goon
Often the first goon encountered, the Inept Goon is new to the job and not much of a challenge to overcome. Most are rookies, and after some time are able to become normal goons. Others, like Barney Fife remain inept and end up as sword fodder. In a game, Inept Goons can be pumped for information, offer comic relief, or a minimal threat to low level PCs.

4. The Specialist Goon
Rather an elite goon, the Specialist has a skill that sets him apart from the mundane goon stock. this could be a specialization in using ropes and snares, being a sharpshooter with a bow and arrow, or the like. While overall inferior to a PC, the Specialist is a peer in terms of their special skill. Thus the Specialist Swordsman goon can match blades with the PCs and survive, but can be outwitted, out-spelled, and such.

5. The Drowsy Goon
Mr. Sleepy Head is most often the goon assigned to guard duty, watching prisoners, and protecting weapon supplies, the horses, and anything else the PCs need to take with as little noise as possible.

6. The Sergeant Goon
The Villain can seldom be bothered to lead squads of goons in the field and often elite lieutenants are too busy on other dastardly missions to serve as leaders. The Sergeant Goon is an elite goon with tactical and leadership skills enough to operate a detachment of goons, generally between six to two dozen. Like the Specialist, the Sergeant can hold his own against a PC but deprived of his squad, he can be overcome.

7. The Goon-in-Training
A counterpoint to the Inept Goon, the Goon in Training is a rookie that shows basic competence and has the potential to become an elite goon with some character progression. Often encountered early in the game, the Goon in Training appears later in the game promoted to a lieutenant or other officer in the Villain’s retinue.

8. The Hooded Goon
Wearing a black Hood, this goon is the interrogator and torturer for the Villain. Doing double duty as executioner, the Hooded Goon is generally also the head of the dungeon watch and frequently berates the Sleepy Goon for not properly watching the prisoners. An elite goon, the Hooded Goon can be a danger with his killing skills, intimidation factor and cadre of lesser guard goons and enforcers.

9. The Groundskeeper Goon
Mazes of briars don’t trim themselves, moats need to be dredged, and the portcullis needs to be oiled to keep working properly. The Groundskeeper maintains the lair of the Villain, or even the home base of the PCs. Often overlooked, the Groundskeeper does his work and keeps his head down.

10. The Lieutenant Goon
Higher ranking than the Sergeant Goon, the Lt. Goon is on par with the PCs for basic abilities but primarily serves as a leader for two dozen to one hundred goons. The Lt. Goon will generally have one Sergeant Goon for each dozen normal goons under his command.

11. The Kitchen Goon
Nominally cooks and butchers, these goons can be surprisingly dangerous foes with their knives, cleavers, and meat hooks. Responcible for the Villain’s food, the head of the Kitchen will be an elite goon fanatically devoted to the villain.

12. The Seneschal
With terrible combat abilities, the Seneschal is the general manager of the Villain’s house and affairs while the boss is away. At any given time, he is accompanied by 1D6 Inept Goons, drowsy goons, and a 50% of a Sergeant Goon or better.

13. The Mutant Goon
Inhuman or a monsterous experiment, the Mutant has higher than normal combat abilites but balances this with abysmal social and mental skills. Either sorcery spawned lizard-men, members of the allied hobgoblin tribe or the like, mutants generally are encountered on their own and have Mutant equivalents to Sergeant and Lieutenant Goons. Mutant goons generally fight to the death.

14. The Green Goon
Most evil lords, and higher ranking PCs are going to have land that they have to survey and tax. In a typical setting, they are going to have at least some forest or timberland to cover. The Green Goon is a native of the woods, but is also a loyal henchman of the employer. Green Goons can be woodland bandits, forestals in service to a lord and even druids sympathetic to the cause.

15. The Menial Goon
The most extra of extras, menial goons include but are not limited to household servants, scullery maids, and other professions that have no combat skills and no real skills of value in the realm of adventurering. Menial goons are best used as petty sabotours and to take up attention in the form of prisoners to be watched, refugees to be tended to or possible accomplice criminal types, depending on their master.

16. The Platemail Goon
A freelance knight, the Platemail Goon is well armed, well equiped, has a mount and a good deal of combat skill and pseudo-noble education. He might be a disenfranchised noble, a pretender mercenary or the like. An elite combatant, he works alone and is likely at first seemingly a rogue threat rather than a pawn of the PCs or the Villain.

17. The Magic Goon
Wizards and sorcerers seldom sell their services out to petty masters such as most villains, and PCs for that matter. Apprentice mages, failed mages, and mortals with a magic knack are more than willing however. Lacking the full versatility of a full-fledged magus, the Magic Goon has a handful of spells, generally 3 to 5, that remain fairly useful but not overpowering. Magic Goons seldom venture out alone considering their skills, and as such are generally attended by a Sergeant Goon, and several normal or mutant goons as protection.

18. Beastly Goon
Not a mutant of any sort, the Beastly Goon tends for the Master’s animals, be they hawks and hounds, wyverns or flesh eating giant centipedes. Un unloving job, most Beastly Goons wear scars from their charges. On the other hand, when a Beastly Goon is called into the field, there is no telling what sort of beastie he is going to have in tow and chained with him. Warhounds are common, while more exotic creatures are not out of the question.

19. Mucky-Muck Goon
Pompous, self-serving and self-important the Mucky-Muck Goon is a functionary who works in administration beneath the Master. Most affect grand titles for their tasks, and the truth of the matter is that even if they were to vanish for weeks no one would really miss them. Lacking combat skills, the Mucky-Muck expects a retinue of protective goons and sycophantically sucks up to the master. Most of the other henchmen hate the Mucky-Muck.

Mucky-Muck is a term I have long used to describe self-aggrandizing middle managers and other less than important positions. As a rule, Mucky-Mucks tend to be better dressed, condescending towards normal workers and arrogant to their office peers.

20. The Skulk Goon
Assassins are expensive, and Goons are much more expendable. The Skulk Goon is trained to be a low level assassin, often using standard technique of poison in the goblet, the old knife in the back, or strangling with wire during the loud theatre performance. Often thin and of rogueish disposition, most Skulks avoid combat and are generally elite Goons.

21. The Whore Goon
No good villain goes with a suitable harem of women to please his every carnal desire and to demonstrate his mastery over that the most elusive of creatures, the female. The Whore Goon is part assassin, part advisor, part meat shield, and entirely expendable.

22. The Gypsy Goon
Not so much one of the Roma people, the Gypsy Goon is a fortune teller that the superstitious villain consults from time to time over various matters. Most maintain witch like appearances, are solitary by nature, and cause fear in the other goons. If pressed to combat, the Gypsy will flee, attack with a poison weapon or powder, and die quickly on the end of a sword.

23. The Hunchback Goon
There are certain tasks that mundane goons are not cut out to do. These tasks are relegated to the misshapen and deformed. Laboratory assistants, grave-robbers, disposers of bodies and other unsavory tasks often fall on the mis-matched shoulders of the often freakish and outcaste Hunchback Goon. The Hunchback is often the whipping boy for the other goons.

24. The Fool Goon
Generally kept close to the Master, the Fool Goon is an entertainer, acrobat, or musician. Fools can be canny political manipulators, terrified imprisoned musicians, or mutant freaks chosen for their ability to survive sadistic beating after sadistic beating.

25. The Goon of the Law
Having a legitmate claim to a domain, the Master of this goon has placed him as a traveling enforcer of the law. The Goon of the law can be a position of privelage for a well serving goon for the PCs, or can be a oppressive Sherrif of Nottingham Goon of the Law. This Goon generally has a rank similar to a Lieutenant Goon and associated ‘deputy goons’.

26. The Bounty Hunter
Only nominally one of the Master’s henchmen, the Bounty Hunter is a skilled goon who uses a variety of exotic weapons and non-lethal modes of attack. The bounty is generally better for a live capture, but sometimes taking a head and a cut in pay is acceptible. Often has his, or her own sense or code of honor.

27. The Family Goon
Being a person of some wealth and influence means that there is generally pressure from the family to spread some of the goods around. Sitting at the table of goondom are untold numbers of cousins, nephews, ambitious uncles, and scheming brothers. While skills vary from being inept goons on up to specialists and Lieutenants, most have a good understanding of the master and their goals. A Family Goon can be a boon in the concept of blood being thicker than water, or can be a liability in being not worth much but requiring close protection.

28. The Senior Goon
Not all goons have to be young. The Senior goon has a head full of gray hair and years of experience serving as a henchman. Full of anecdotes for PCs, and nasty surprises for villains, the Senior uses brains more than bull rushes and frontal attacks.

29. Automatic Goons
Hailing from the mineral kingdom Automatic Goons are animated objects that serve the Master. The most common form of automatic goon is the zombie and the lowly skeleton. More powerful versions of the Automatic can include bound elementals and golems. always combative type goons, Automatics seldom have skills beyond Hit Things Hard or Take it Like a Man.

30. The Henchman Goon
Horses require a good deal of care, from basics like feeding and daily brushing to advanced care like trimming hooves, shoeing, and floating teeth. Somewhere between a groom and veterinarian, the Henchman takes the best care of the master’s horse at home and in the field. Other tasks include the upkeep on saddles, bridles, and barding for the horse if it has any. The Henchman himself generally has a horse of his own just to keep up with his master, but it is always an inferior animal.

Appearance
It is a long standing tradition that mages have a familiar, and while the most common and least offensive tend to be felines, blathersome toads, and snowy owls, the weakest of the ranks of the infernal often feel the call of the Wizard’s beckoning. The generally appearance of these creatures is as a winged humanoid roughly two feet tall and weighing less than 20 pounds. The skin comes in a rainbow of colors, though blacks, greens, and reds are by far the most common. The wings are often leathery, and the skin is generally covered in small reptilian scales. This is subjective of course as all such imps are able to polymorph themselves into mundane animals of roughly the same mass, though said animals tend to exude an unnatural aura.

Basic Abilities
Imps, being the weakest of the infernal, are always looking for a patron or host to protect them or otherwise sustain them. This innate desperation makes them ideal cantidates for binding into familiars. While lacking in physical strength, they make up for it through arcane knowledge and access to terrible secrets and forbidden magics. The ironic part is that being such weak demons, these diminutive creatures are not able to instruct magi in the arts of true infernal magics. To gain access to the Keys of Hell, a magus would have to summon a greater demon able to confer such secrets. As it is, an imp provides a suitable mentor in the paths of arcane magic though they are at the very best neutral in alignment.

Most Imps have full access to the realms of cantrip magics, the weakest of magics. With this they are able to conjure tiny objects, mend things, send invisible messages, and the other equivalent of wizard’s parlor tricks. They will also have at least one spell of some signifigance, often a spell that in some way defines their demonic nature.

1. Mlaen of the Horizon
Imps are infuriatingly proud creatures, but few can match Mlaen for arrogance and condenscension. This snow white imp with gleaming gold claws and teeth claims tremendous powers of divination and to know the warp and weft of time before it is woven. With a taste for expensive wine, exotic food and incense, Mlaen can cast clairaudience and clairvoyance spells at will.

2. Jiala Sprite-Biter
As chaotic and quixotic imp as there ever was, this flippant female imp struts and preens, cooing over her own reflection. Jiala demands a constant amount of attention, but rather than putting on acts, and throwing tantrums this little imp resorts to pulling pranks, setting traps, and singing ribald songs and telling macabre or scandalous jokes. Fresh wine and cheeses are her preferred offering, and she avoids getting in trouble by casting Charm Person magics on anyone but her wizardly master.

3. Dalzhind the Elder
A scabrous and rugose imp, Dalzhind is the color of yellowed paper and smells strongly of old people. He has been a familiar for wizards for centuries, and is more than willing to tell his current master all about his previous masters. This is generally done to point out the current wizard’s similarities to the fools who have summoned him, or to point out said wizard’s failings in comparison with the wizards of old. A traditionalist, Dalzhind demands offerings of blood and locks of hair tossed into flames and can cast Identify Object spells to determine a magic item’s powers and history, as well as the same with mundane items.

4. Sreen the Mad
Brilliant scarlet and brayingly obnoxious, Sreen is a vigorous imp that lives for excitement. Unfortunately most mages lack the constitution for too much excitement. Sreen compensates for this by buffing his master with spells like Mage Armor, Protection from Falling, and Increased Constitution. Rather than demanding some food, drink of luxury as offering, Sreen expects his master to stay involved in exciting events, risk taking and the like, generally a dangerous event at least once a week.

5. Tilarrio the Enduring
Withered and old like Dalshind, Tilarrio is also a crippled imp. He is missing a wing and much of his body is covered with a patchwork of scars. An ascetic devil, Tilarrio demands his master meditate at least an hour a day. A wise imp, Tillario can cast Detect Magic. Read Magic, Detect Secret Doors, and Detect Poison at will. Aside from his impish duties, Tilarrio smokes a tiny longstem pipe and takes long naps after drinking too much brandy.

6. Nibele the Card-Counter
Looking like a miniature cross between a common street-walker and a silk clad princess, Nibele is an imp of luck. Strikingly beautiful despite the pinions growing from her back she is a helpful companion and friend of the gambling mage. In exchange for her ability to use Invisibility at will, Nibele will help cheat at cards and dice for a share of the loot gained. If the mage in question in only interested in her knowledge of invisibility magics, her demand will be for him to indulge in a certain amount of gambling on a regular basis. She also demands that her master have no other women in his life other than herself. Ever.

7. Shebali the Inciter
There are few things more offensive to Shebali than the status quo. The current monarchy? Topple it. The main line of though in the schools of magic? Overturn it. A sucker for an underdog cause, rebel faction, or dissenting opinion, Shebali takes offerings in the form of verbal debates and can cast confusion at will, as well as being able to taunt mercilessly.

8. Llieh the Immaculate
A seemingly pristine imp made of rosewood and wearing various ensembles of black silk and diminutive jewels, Llieh is an ancient imp recalling the splendor of ages past and the height to which the magical arts reached in those times. An herbalist and potion brewer without peer, Llieh will endlessly berate any magus who forgets which is a Szanzt cup and which is the Oorlaft Beaker, and heavens help the acolyte who spills even a dram of spell reagent.

9. Roseor the Admonisher
While most demons and devils wallow in their depravity, Roseor looks to higher inspirations, speaking broken pieces of holy sutras. Despite this seeming devotion, this charcoal colored imp is easily repulsed by any holy symbol. Roseor is often belligerent when faced with alcohol, whoring, feasting and vast sums of gold. He takes offerings in the form of reciting psalms and can Cure Wounds and has a 5% chance to Remove Disease.

10. Ankin the Patient
This imp, perpetually covered with a patina of chalkdust and ink blotted fingers is a paramount instructor of magic. Complete with tiny spectacles and an imp-sized grimoire and pocket-watch, Ankin is equal parts devil and college chemistry teacher. (Though some would argue they are one and the same) Ankin can cast any low level spell, but rather than at will, he can only cast said spell three times a day, and is limited to one single spell to be cast a day.

11. Phindar the Mutilator
Larger than most imps by half, Phindar is an impressive collection of fangs, claws, and body barbs. Belligerent in the extreme, he is an asset to warmages mainly. He is able to cast Magic Weapon 3 times a day, Cause Fear at will, and bite and claw for minor albeit magical damage. In civil situations Phindar will occupy himself with hunting local wildlife like rodents, cats, puppies and the like and eat them in such a fashion that they live as long through the process as he can manage. In less civil surroundings he preferrs eyes, lips, and tongues.

12. Rothe the Bound
Appearing as a nearly skeletal imp with paper thin wings and skin the color of rotten grapes, Rothe is draped in tiny chains and bells. This imp moans and laments it’s terrible burden to those who can hear it’s cries. It demands to be abused, shouted at and physically beaten for the slightest infraction. Just to make sure it gets enough pleasure from it’s beatings, Rothe makes such events public, and often in a manner that demands retribution. Rothe is a master of low level Summoning spells.

13. Or’shanse the Fatal
Looking half rotten with cloudy eyes and ripped wings, Or’shanse gives the appearance of a zombie imp. The smell of death follows this morbidly humorous imp who delights in the suffering of others. While accepting offerings of funeral candles and mourner’s tears, Or’shanse rather likes to encourage suicides and bath in the angst generated. This imp can cast Suggestion and a form of the Animate Dead spell, but skeletons and zombies raised so only last for a single night.

14. Venorsh the Wolf
This hairy imp smells of wet dog and is as pleasant as a hungry wolf. Hungry for red meat, Venorsh speaks very little and when he/it? does the words are gutteral. Unless specifically ordered to stay close, Venorsh will skulk away to hide. Despite being reclusive and taciturn, this imp will teach the Summon Animal and Hold Monster spells but only to mages who allow him his indulgences and brooding.

15. Quess the Noble
While the imps recognize herairchy, only Quess in his massive pride claims to be a prince and noble among the imps. Appearing as a textbook picture of impish perfection he clads himself in diminutive furs and carries imp sized crowns, swords and lordly staves. He demands to eat from a gold plate and drink from a silver cup and to have his own servant slave. In exchange for these demands, Quess is a master courtier and manipulator of court intrigue and can cast spells of misdirection and charisma enhancement as needed.

16. Elsqatyu the Arbiter
With an aura of authority and clad in judicial robes, Elsqatyu is a living breathing impish encyclopedia of law and legal precedent. This imp abhors chaos in its many forms and expects his master to keep to a rigid daily routine. Offerings come in the form of hand written legal documents and incense burned in a silver dish. Being the axiomist that he is, Elsqatyu can cast Protection from Chaos at will and Geas once a day in the serving of contracts and terms of punishment.

17. Ultrinnan Twelve-Strings
A slight imp with a wide smile and delicate fingers, Ultrinnan is a jack of all trades. This imp plays an imp sized harp or pan pipe, carries a small sword, and can cast Greater Illusion once a day and small audible and visual Glamours at will. While being capricious, Ultrinnan can be a great asset in choosing garb for attending fetes, critiquing music, and other whirl-about social endeavors.

18. Ust the Braggart
It is uncommon for imps to take an interest in the affairs of mortals, and as far as imps go Ust is very uncommon. Being a rank competitor, Ust is endlessly fascinated by human sports, races, and tournaments. While at times this can be a simple annoyance when the imp vanishes to watch the local tournament, it becomes more of a problem when the imp demands the mage attend a minor game between street children, or sneaks into a great tournament where magic is banned. Ust generally can use buffing magics like Increase Strength and Increase Agility on his master of those he wants to see win in a game.

19. Jabbuk the Master of Direction
While a mage can learn a great deal from the intelligent and overbearing Jabbuk, he will never satisfy the imp’s demands for perfection. The mage’s chanting will always be off tone, or the somantic gestures will be belittled for being stiff in the wrist and limp in the elbow. While this sort of dynamic is irritating in the laboratory, in public it is unbearable as Jabbuk’s critical commentary will spill over into conversations with others, with the imp telling the mage to stand up straight, stop blinking so much, stop looking distracted. Jabbuk can Animate Object at will but such animation only lasts for one day.

20. Colnbluth the Grotesque
While few imps are subtle creatures, Colnbluth makes even Sreen the Mad look like a shining example of self control. Like a monkey at the zoo, Colnbluth will make faces and lewd gestures, while play with himself in the presence of ladies and attempt to throw imp feces at men in polished armor. This display hides a devious and cunning mind capable of casting Remove Curse and Cure Disease at will. The cost of this magical protection comes in the demand that Colnbluth and his master attend many bars, indulge in sins of the flesh, get drunk and other debauchery on a semi-regular basis.

21. Houj the All-Seeing
A decrepid looking female imp with a tobacco smoking habit and smelling of gin, Houj can find any flaw, fault or weakness with a moment’s glance. This curmudgeonly imp takes offerings with a grumble but pretty much anything will be flawed in some fashion. Houj can cast Wilt Plant at will, and Warp Object once a day.

22. Uln’hyrr the Serpent
With the cold unblinking eyes of a snake, Uln’hyrr is a wise and unnervingly knowing imp. Emerald green with tiny teeth and a taste for sweetbreads and mice he has information always of value. Few know of more hidden caches, forgotten ruins, secret formulae, or wobegone spells than Uln’hyrr. Most of these are red herrings, leading to empty holes, failed potions and the like, but the importance to Uln’hyrr is not the end, but the sale. His power is a constant Protection from Scrying rending the mage effectively invisible to sensory magics.

23. Drada the Imitator
Drada is a consumate imitator and will magically appear as a different imp, using their name and Shadow Magic versions of their spells. Her Shadow Magic looks the part of the real magic but is 80% likely to fail under scrutiny. If disarmed from his disguises, she is a tiny and frail creature with translucent flesh that lets the mage see her internal organs and blood flowing. If so disrobed, Drada will vanish for at least a lunar cycle before returning like a forlorn lover.

24. Mighty Sea’an
A handsome and muscular imp, Sea’an aspires to become a terrible imp with an appropriate Warrior-Mage or Mage-Knight as his human ally. This almost human looking imp demands his master involve himself in physical contests as well as wizardly persuits as well as keeping a mistress or concubine if not married. Like most vain imps, Sea’an loves attention and will offer his ability to cast Hero’s Blessing, or Mage Armor at will.

25. Dalhar the Meek
This imp is easily half the size of other imps and is absolutely terrified of his wizard, cowering in his presence. As a weaker than average imp, Dalhar has not yet gained a signature spell, and in fact all of his spells have a 35% chance of failure. His wisdom is similarly faulty, being wrong roughly 20% of the time. When confronted about his errors and ineptitudes, Dalhar becomes hysterical, sobbing, throwing tantrums and hiding.

26. Klewar the Jovial
Almost any given day is a holy day, feast day, or some other celebration somewhere in creation. Klewar just happens to know what celebration occurs everyday, something he will festively tell his master between demonstrations appropriate to the celebration, drinking, or otherwise being an impish ‘frat boy’. As his given power, Klewar can Create Food and Drink almost at will and once a month can cast Summon Feast. This comes with the stipulation that the food and drink in question relates to a celebration. While this is fine during the Zebrank Festival of Beer and Sausage, it is much more of a problem when it happens to be the Feast of Consumption for the distant cannibals of the outer isles.

27. Mother Ilhar
A matronly imp, Mother Ilhar is steel gray with an imposing bun and stern expression on her drawn face. This is a tough act as this imp desires to be a caregiver, taking tears shed on her proverbial shoulder as offerings. Unlike most imps, too insecure to work against their master, Mother Ilhar will work things to increasingly put her master in situations to come to her in need of succor and aid. She can cast Sleep at will, but cannot use this against her master.

28. Z’ress the Stout
Appearing as a grotesquely muscled female imp with glistening green and gold scales, Z’ress will only serve female wizards. This imp exhorts the value of strength and dominion over men by either sheer brute force or by use of feminine wiles. She can cast Hold Person against men at will, Charm Person again only at men, and Increase Strength but only for women. Z’ress expects her wizard to regularly prove herself stronger and superior to men.

29. Shee’lot the Wasted
Reeking of piss and ale, Shee’lot is an imp with a vice. The gaunt looking yellow-eyed imp is slavishly addicted to alcohol in any form, though the stronger the better. Constantly drunk, Shee’lot can Purify Toxin at will, though this will not work against alcohol. When sobered, the imp can cast other spells but hang-overs reduce his formerly signifigant spellpower with a 25% chance of spell failure and a 10% chance to cast the wrong spell.

30. Morfeth the Schemer
A fiercely oratory imp, Morfeth has plans, grandiose plans. These plans range from the unlikely ascendance to the realms of becoming a greater demon to the mundane addition of new rooms to an existing wizard’s tower. This imp is able to draw out detailed plans, balance books of credit, and make long term plans for a myriad of projects and can cast Duplicate Object at will, and can make said items permanent once a week.

A lot of what adventurers do is illegal, from fighting and carrying weapons in towns, to robbery and tomb raiding. Sooner or later, many of them are going to be arrested and find themselves up before a judge.

This judge is notoriously cruel, making no effort to make sure those who are tried in his courtroom have a fair trial, and taking pleasure in handing out the maximum sentences possible. A hanging judge, he delights in handing down death sentences and then going and seeing the executions of those who he has sentenced to death.

2-Maximum John

Like Judge Jeffreys, he likes to hand down the maximum sentence, hence his nickname. However, unlike Judge Jeffreys, he believes in giving the accused person as fair a trial as possible, and allows them to talk in private with their lawyers and pass their lawyers notes, rather then just railroading them through the legal system. Once there is a conviction, however, he has no mercy.

3-Pay Me

Despite being well-paid, Pay Me is deeply corrupt and before the trial begins will have the defendant taken before him privately in chains and offer to try and swing the trial in his or her favor if a hefty enough bribe is given, and to hand down the lowest sentence possible if the defendant is somehow still convicted. He has friends in the world of organized crime because of this.

4-Last Legs

This judge is over eighty years old, and withered and frail, yet he still manages to drag himself out of bed every morning and make it to the courthouse no matter what the weather. His mind is not as sharp as it was in his prime, but he refuses to retire. And because of a law that protects judges from forced retirement, he cannot be made to retire either.

5-Soft Heart

Soft Heart genuinely feels sorry for the accused people who come before him, unlike most judges. He tries to avoid handing down death sentences whenever possible, even when the criminals rightly deserve death, and after handing down a death sentence will pray for the criminal's soul. His prison sentences are often on the short side, and some fellow judges think he is too soft on crime.

6-By The Book

By The Book believes in running his trials exactly by the book and according to the very letter of the law. He prefers even that a criminal should be wrongly acquitted rather then an innocent person wrongly convicted, and has earned the grudging respect of those on the other side of the law because of this attitude.

7-In Fear

The last two judges to hold the post that In Fear has were assassinated by gangsters, and they have privately made it clear that he will be victim number three if he seriously tries to enforce the law against them. Therefore he does his best to get them set free on legal technicalities when they come before him, or given at most short sentences, because he fears what would happen to him if he was to make a stand.

8-Roy Bean

This judge should not really have become a judge at all, as he lacks the formal legal knowledge and was given the post as he has friends in high places. To be fair, he does his best, but his knowledge of the law is sketchy and has resulted in both wrongful acquittals and wrongful convictions. Anyone trying to point out that he is doing things wrongly runs a high risk of being jailed for contempt of court.

9-White Suit

A firm friend of By The Book, unlike some of his fellow judges White Suit is well known for his honesty. He refuses to take a bribe from anybody, no matter how rich and powerful that they might be, and is not going to be intimidated by anybody either. Any genuinely innocent person who ends up before him has a fair chance of an acquittal.

10-Judge Dredd

By day a well respected High Court Judge, by night Judge Dredd heads a secret chapter of The White Knights, a gang of violent vigilantes. He has personally helped lynch a score of alleged criminals without getting caught, as he masks his face, leaves no fingerprints, will also murder witnesses if need be, and besides, who would suspect a judge with more then thirty years of legal experience of being a killer?

11-Avenging Angel

This judge has the commandments of (insert suitable name of god or goddess here) engraved on a prominently displayed plaque inside his courtroom, often quotes from the holy book of said religion during the summing up process at the end of a trial, and is rumoured to hand out lesser sentences to those that follow the same religion as him and to those who he personally feels are suitably religious enough and show penance. He thinks that he is doing the god/goddess's job by judging sinners.

12-Or Else

This judge believes that all of those who come before him must be guilty, and so heartily dislikes conducting trials. He is not averse to having the accused taken to his office before the trial begins and privately telling them that if they insist on a trial and are found guilty he will hand down the maximum sentence possible, whilst if he or she pleads guilty the sentence will be much shorter.

13-The Changeling

A criminal gang somehow managed to steal The Chair Of Life from a high security prison, and then had a high ranking judge murdered and one of them who had been deliberately left ignorant of the murder plot changed into a copy of the judge. As he was innocent of the judge's murder, his mind was not changed and he was able to impersonate the judge and swing trials in the gang's favour, either getting their members wrongly acquitted with favourable summings up or handing down the minimum sentences when a conviction was unavoidable.

14-Woman Hater

Whilst perfectly fair to male defendants, Woman Hater has a deep hatred of women, seeing them as basically inferior to men at best and as wicked creatures at worst. He actively tries to get those accused of rape acquitted, belittles women in his court at every opportunity, and hands down the maximum sentences to convicted female defendants.

15-Woman Lover

Whilst Woman Hater unfairly hates the female gender, Woman Lover goes the other way and idolises the vast majority of women, intervening on their side during his trials. Women facing a divorce feel very lucky when he is chosen as the judge in their case. Men often privately think that he must wish that he had been born female, but know better then to say that to his face, not wanting jail time for gross contempt of court.

16-The Chieftain

Orc laws may be far fewer and simpler then those of the other races, but amongst themselves, they are far more then brawling barbarians. They do have a law code, and the chief of each tribe acts as a judge. This particular Orcish chief takes his judicial role seriously and tries to ensure a fair hearing for the accused Orcs who are brought before him for harming or stealing from members of their own tribe. Whilst his punishments are painful, he is respected as a fine judge and a warrior king by his tribe, and even to a far lesser extent by the members of other Orc tribes as well.

17-The Monk

This judge follows the religion of The Order of Dalraaen and as such is scrupulously honest, as he does not want his soul torn to shreds and obliterated in the afterlife. Respected by his fellow judges, he is close friends with Avenging Angel and wishes that he would convert and join the Order, as he thinks that it really would be the best religion for a fellow judge to follow. Avenging Angel has politely turned him down, but they are still the best of friends.

18-Secret Society

This judge is a key member of (insert name of secret society here) and as such, rather then following the impartial laws of the land, his judgements are slanted to favour the secret society in both civil and criminal cases. There is a certain slight hand signal that only members of the secret society know, which is how they identify themselves to each other.

19-The Worrier

This judge privately has anxiety issues. Do his fellow judges think he is doing a good job? What if the defendant on trial is in fact innocent? Or what if he is guilty but escapes a conviction? What if things get messed up. These are the sorts of thoughts running around his head during a trial. He thinks everything should work the way he wants it to and has insomnia because of his fears that things will be less then perfection.

20-The Count

This judge works undercover as a member of the secret Night Court-as a vampire himself, it is he who serves at the secret trials of vampires who kill too many humans too often, reveal vampiric secrets (such as vampires being real) to other races thus breaking the Masquerade, or otherwise break the Blood Code, which are the largely self-imposed laws which vampires live under. Since the penalty for breaking the code is death, he tries to make sure that those who face trial are indeed guilty and their trials are fair.

21-The Vyshinsky

The Vyshinsky specializes in large televised show trials of the political opposition in a dictatorship. He hectors and humiliates the unfortunate defendants at every opportunity. Most of said defendants have been tortured beforehand into pleading guilty and confessing their *sins* and he knows this has happened but turns a blind eye to it. All in all, he is a thoroughly nasty, unpleasant and self-serving individual.

22-The Judge-King

The Judge-King is more then a judge-as one of the leading judges in a kritarchy, a state ruled by judges, he and his fellow top judges make the laws as well as holding trials for alleged lawbreakers. He, personally, genuinely does try and do the right thing most of the time, but he needs to spend as much time ruling as judging.

23-Magical Magistrate

This judge is in fact a very powerful magic user who illegally uses his magic to warp the very fabric of reality and hand down magical punishments that exist in no book of laws. Amongst other things, he has turned a sex offender into a tree under which children can safely play, and a murderer into a cow destined to be slaughtered for meat. For lesser offences, he likes to change the gender and age of the offenders and place them with new families, who think that they were always their children.

24-Court Martial

This judge works within the military system and sits on a court-martial board dealing with deserters, mutineers and other military offenders. He is very strict even by judicial standards, but before becoming a military judge he served for a long time as a junior officer in a war zone and was lucky not to die or be permanently maimed upon the battlefield. He thinks that since he avoided committing a multitude of military sins, so should everyone else, and is merciless towards military mess-ups.

25-The Newbie

The Newbie has just started his first trial as a judge and has no close friends amongst his fellow judges yet. He might grow up to be honest if his close friends end up being judges like By The Book and Maximum John. If he chooses to befriend judges like Pay Me or Secret Society , on the other hand, he could very easily fall into a cesspit of corruption.

26-The Trainee

The Trainee has several years of legal experience as both a defence lawyer and a lawyer for the prosecution, but he has only recently started to train as a judge with *sandbox* trials in which noone in reality faces punishment if convicted. He is doing his best, but he has some way to go before he can be let loose on the real thing.

27-For the Family (1)

This judge works in the semi-secret Family Courts and has a lot of sympathy towards social workers, unlike the public, who either think of them as tyrants who break up happy families, or are idiots who allow children to be murdered. He generally does his best to deal with messy divorces and the like day in, day out.

28-For the Family (2)

When his brothers were going into organized crime, and his sisters were being used as pawns to unite crime families, the Don had a special plan for him. He was to infiltrate the Law, and then use his position with care to benefit the Family when it really mattered and the stakes were high enough. He protested; after all, becoming a judge was a no-no on a level with becoming an informer or a cop. But the Don said that not only his Family but the other Families had agreed; now that there were new crime-fighting tools available to law enforcement like the phone bug and the witness protection scheme, the Families needed someone on the inside to help them, and reluctantly he agreed.

29-Dragon

This judge is indeed a dragon-a mighty red scaled dragon, and he rules a sizeable amount of territory including two human towns. His trials are pretty rough and ready and he eats the defendants that he finds guilty, but he does not run a kangaroo court-more then once he has set a defendant free as he personally felt that the evidence was not strong enough. All in all, he is a lot fairer then you would expect a dragon to be towards humans.

30-In The Mind

One day he may well be a great, famous and wise judge, but for now he is a ten year old boy and his trials are games that he plays with himself in his own mind. He knows what he wants to do when he grows up, however.

There is a tournament and now the town is flooded with Knights. OR there is a huge group of nights the characters are interacting with. Now you have to fill out those personalities. Here is 30 of them.

1- The Party Knight
This knight is known for his carousing and wenching. He has a number of free riders who hang about him, soaking up the “good times”. He has a number of squires just so he has an entourage (and that occasionally he needs some help “the morning after”).

2- The Recently Raised
He is a knight of a lower social order (Country Knight) that has been raised to a higher degree of peerage (He is now a courtly knight). He is a practical man, but uncomfortable in these new surroundings.

3- The Green
This knight has just gotten his spurs and is ready to prove himself to the world. He is the son of a great knight, so he finds himself entangled in his web of his father’s peers and enemies.

4- The Ugly One
After one combat accident (or jousting accident) too many, the man’s looks are hideous. He is resentful of the beautiful and pretty. In fact, he is arranging a little surprise for the beautiful knight.

5- Honor Knight
This is a seasoned knight who is known far and wide for his unbending honor and sense of Right and Wrong. He will take the hard road rather than lie or do something other than “the right”.

5- Cunning Knight
He is a seasoned knight of some skill. He is not the best, nor is he the worst. He is however the most cunning of knights. He utilizes his brains and social manipulation to achieve his ends.

7- The Old Knight
This warrior should of retired his spurs a while ago. However he is in denial about his faltering prowess. While still highly skilled, he is physically no longer a match for a younger knight.

8- Holy Knight
The knight is known for his pious devotion to his religion. It is more than just saying words or visiting temple, he truly believes in his faith and follows it tenants.

9- Heart Knight
This young knight is handsome, gallant, and skilled. Young girls swoon over him, and older women try to get him either into their beds or to have him court their daughters. While he could have any woman, he seems chaste… saving himself for his true love.

10- Big Knight
This bear of a man is loud, boisterous, and dangerous to everyone in combat. He does everything Big and with all his enthusiasm.

11- Hunting Knight
This knight is known for his prowess in The Hunt. He is a master tracker and totally at home in the wilds. He is also a master hawker.

12- Joust Master
This knight has earned renown for winning tournaments. He is not a great knight in war (he is an average knight). He is however the best jouster in the world. And he knows it.

13- Bitter Knight
This knight has been wronged at so many turns that he has come to expect it. For some reason, he has been lied to, betrayed, and ignored by his peers. Many of these were not even his fault. He is a cranky and bitter man who is always in a foul temper. He can casually be turned against his Lord/ King with enough promises.

14- Political Knight
This knight is trying to arrange things so he can take the throne. He is more book learned and courtly than many knights, but he has higher aspirations. He has two to three knights (Bitter Knight, Warfare Knight, and one other), in his pocket.

15- Warfare Knight
This knight has distinguished himself on the battlefield. He is an excellent leader and warrior. For reasons unknown, he is not good at “knightly games” and has never won a tournament. This bothers him greatly. In battle, he has placed the Joust Master in positions of great peril. He also has a feud with the Party Knight.

16- Mace Knight
This knight is adequate with the knightly weapon of choice. However he is quite skilled with an odd mace like weapon.

17- Red Knight
The knight from the far corners is known for his red equipment, red coat of arms, and his red tinted hair. He is also well versed in the old styles of courtly behavior. He does have an odd accent, one from the far corners of the Land.

18- Knight of Renown
This knight is well seasoned. He is liked and well thought of by almost ever member of the peerage. He is fair, just, and honest, but not excessively so. He has the kings ear, thus is often dragged into intrigue by the cunning and political knight.

19- Fun Knight
This is a likeable knight who is always good with a jest or able to lighten a moment. He is an adequate knight. He pokes fun at all people except the Honor Knight, who does not have much of a sense of humor.

20- Dour Knight
This tacturn man is careful and serious in all things. It said he has not smiled since he was small. He has an irrational hatred of the Fun Knight (because he is constantly being made fun of) and the Party Knight (who is too frivolous to be a true knight).

21- Farmer Knight
This Knight loves his holdings and farms. He loves his peasants. He would do anything for them. However, his obligations pull him away from his holdings.

22- Mystic Knight
This knight is known for trafficing with magics and other things. He has a couple of free-riders who are wizards, mages, farseers, and oracles.

23- Common Knight
Not everyone is something special.

24- Bow Knight
This knight is a master of the Bow. He uses a powerful bow that most men can not draw.

25- Knight of Marriages
This knight has six daughters (and one son). He is constantly trying to marry them off to any knight of worthy reputation… even if that reputation is an hour old.

26- Drinking Buddy
This knight is a drinking buddy of the Lord/ King. This makes him sought after by those looking for power or those who like a good time. When sober, he gives the Lord/ King good advice.

27- The Arrogant Knight
This knight is good, but not great. But to hear him tell it, he is the most skilled/ smart/ powerful knight since Knighthood was invented. He is snide and often loud. Any misfortune is always “something else’s fault”.

28- Knight of No Title
This is a warrior of noble blood and title. However, because of events in his life, he has never been made a knight and never wants to be a knight. He is an excellent warrior and a good advisor of the throne (who ever is in charge), but he takes no title and can not abide by this honor game.

29- Loyal Knight
This knight is well seasoned and will blindly follow his Lord. He hates the political knight because he is “not as loyal as most” to the Lord/ Throne.

30- Perfect Knight
He not only meets all the expectations one has of a knight, he exceeds them. He is a matter of awe or a subject of spite depending on who you talk to. Some have a personal rivalry with him, but the perfect knight has none. He treats all knights as his brothers.

1.The Faustian
Like Faust, this mage has gained his powers through a cunning pact with an evil power that will claim his soul upon his death. This baroque mage goes to great lengths to ensure his own survival, no matter the cost. Indulges in massive bouts of drinking, and uses his powers to seduce beautiful, wealthy, and poewrful women.

2. The Germaine Comte
This magus is a gentleman wrapped in an enigma. He is a courtier, musician, poet, and mysterious alchemist. His past is a secret, and his plans are far sighted beyond imagination, for unlike liches and vampires, he has discovered the secret of immortality, and keeps it a very tight secret.

3. The Collector
Many magi have hobbies and interests, but few match the zeal of the Collector. The collector’s lab is as often a storehouse and showcase of the item of his interest, be it books, relics from a certain time period ro civilization, or the stuffed bodies of rare animals. Within his area of interest, few have more information.

4. The Merlin
This mage is a vital member of the Royal court, even as he assumes a lofty perch above its courtiers. He is the King’s advisor, and almost a fatherly figure to almost everyone in the court. His powers are great, yet they are only used rarely and in the most dire of situations.

5. The Taliesin
Not a slinger of spells, this mage is a keeper of lore, a scribbler of scrolls and a poet laureate of the Kingdom. Now only does he write down the epics, he can recite them from memory, all of them.

6. The Virgil
This mage is a well enducated explorer who has penned a number of books, amny of which are commonly found in any wizard’s study. From treatises on the nature of planar geography, the movement of the soul after death, or even the use of magic to fortell the future.

7. The King Solomon
This magus is a master of a potent kingdom, himself as the king. He has great wealth, a great many wives, and can command with his sorceries extra-planar creatures and demons with consumate ease. He is a wise ruler, though sometimes percieved as cruel.

8. The Bramble
This mage has a physical sport that he participates in, though is under constant scrutiny to make sure that he doesnt ‘cheat’ and use magic. He is seen as an embarassment to the mage community, and a nuisance to the sport community, and is likely the subject of public scorn.

9. The Doctor Mirabilis
This mage believes in using careful observation and research in the practice of magic, making many notations and eventually books from his collected works. While perhaps dangerously powerful, the Doctor is held in very high regards by the populace.

10. The Albertus Magnus
This mage believes that arcane and divine power can peacefully co-exist and as such is an accomplished wizard as well as a standing member of the Faith. to this end, he has published a creed for faithful wizards, and wizardly minded faithful to follow.

11. The Diabolist
Unlike the Faustian, the diabolist exchanges the lives of others in acts of sadism and perversion to a demon patron in exchange for wealth, power, influence and other goodies. this mage keeps up a good public face to hide his crimes against humanity and nature. A double-crosser, monster, and sadist without equal.

12. The Nicholas Flammel
A small and understated alchemist and mage who is a philanthropist who uses his wealth and influence to sponsor hospitals, orphaneges, and other aid to the poor and to the dowtrodden. A meek man more at home among books and tables, who speaks references obscure alchemical reactions, and has a great love for what humanity is capable of achieving.

13. The John Dee
This magus is versed in the alien arts of calculation and mathematics, using numbers to count divinations. In addition to this use of numerology, the mage is a proponent of the divine orders, and seeks to bridge the gap between arcane and divine magic, rather than accept the two as they are.

14. The Agrippa
This mage is a man of many trades, a philospher, a lawyer, at times of need a soldier, and a doctor. He is able to argue theology, legality, alchemy, and tactics with equal skill. Unfortunatly his vitriolic personality endears him to few, and many are releaved to see him go on about his business.

15. The Nostradamus
A seer without peers, this mage is a regular publisher, producing a new set of almanacs a year as well as writing horoscopes for the wealthy and the nobles. He possesses a great deal of energy and despite his beard, moves with the agility of a young man.

16. The Steganographer
Cryptics and writting backwards are not enough for this mage. All of his books and notes are written in a steganograph, and are only obvious as magical texts to those who know EXACTLY what they are looking for. His spellbook reads like a cook’s reference book, his alchemical grimoire looks identical to a book of music for mid century strings. This is no illusion, but a code.

17. The Adam Weishaupt
This mage has a secret agenda and is part of a secret mages only society. This society has the secret ambition of overthrowing the world governments and replacing them with a single Arcanocracy, a government of mages. Fortunately for the world, this is really a rather small society and at best causes problems for a kingdom or two.

18. The Butterfly
Unlike the other mages, the butterfly is a female courtesan and pillow confidant of the King, or even Queen for that matter. Her charms are not all spells, though she does use them. The great secret is that no one knows that the lord’s mistress is a mage.

19. The Bulwer
The Bulwer has a notion of writing plays and dramas, in addition to his magics. His magics can even be a vital part of said plays and dramas. The unwashed masses love the plays, as most are gratuitous and play upon common conventions of magic and such. Nobles, poets, and playwrights consider the work of the Bulwer to be tantamount to complete rubbish.

20. The Crystal-Monger
The new age magus, this mage uses crystals for everything, including finding the front door in the morning, to conjuring a cup of red coffee. All spells are performed with a great deal of pomp and circumstance, with divination being held as the absolute highest art, only being followed with communicating with the spirits of the dead. Most crystal-mongers are mediocre mages, or are new to the art.

21. The Samuel Mathers
This mage is a pioneer and a visionary and as such has created his own society of other mages and important personages who feel the same on certain matters. This Mage is a vegetarian and opposes magical study on living creatures, and smoking pipeweed. He contributes to the art by translating and releasing ancient texts.

22. The Fairuza
This mage comes from tinker/gypsy stock and has traveled over a great deal of the known world. She has embraced the common form of magic, rejecting the high ritual sorcery embraced by the viziers and court magi. The Fairuza has many piercings, and tattoos, is a collector of small and odd creatures, and has a fellowship of other earthy magi.

23. The LaVey
This mage, quite the opposite of the Albertus Magnus or John Dee views divine magic as laced with hypocrisy. The LaVey espouses a creed of materialism, and individualism. More shockingly, he makes a publis display of venerating the antithesis of the standing religion. Unlike the Faustian and Sadist, he is not currently involved with minions of evil.

24. The Crowley
A shocking person, the Crowley mage is prolific writer, a drug user, a sexual revolutionary, a hedonist, a mountain climber, a chess master, and currently holds the title of ‘the most wicked man alive’. The Mage’s magics challenge public sensibilities and the boundaries of magic until they twist and snap.

25. The Marcus Garvey
This mage believes that magic stems from a racial source, and that all mages carry the blood of insert ancient mythical location here and that all mages are one day destined to return to their homeland and free it from outside powers. While a few share his idea on blood connections between mages and the lost land, few are as aggressive in their actions to restore the mages to their homeland.

26. The Himmler
This mage flourishes under the aegis of a powreful and likely evil warlord or tyrant. With a mix of shrewdness, ambition, and slavish devotion to the leader, the Himmler rises quickly in power within the organization, where his arts are supported by said power, and he is free to do his maigc as he pleases without the consent of the populace, or the governance of his peers.

27. The Dr. Leary
The life of a magus is one of constantly researching new spells and collecting minutae, and publishing new works. It was a hectic pace that this mage had no interest in. The Dr. Leary discourages new mages from falling into the arcane power-mongering and games of other mages. He seeks to expand minds and loosen social boundaries, and for everyone to just get along…dude.

28. The Rudolf Steiner
This mage is more concerned with matters of the spiritual planes of existance than with the material world. Where many mages have a tendancy to become absent minded, this mage is likely to send his consciousness to another plane to explore and understand that new world. As a sage of the esoteric and exotic, there is none more informed, as for the location of the closest place to get a mug of ale, or even the king’s palace…better look somewhere else.

29. The Cagliostro
This mage is one of the most well known and spoken of mages in all the land. His claims to fame come from the questionalbe nature of mis magics and alchemical claims. Some call him a vagabond and a thief, while others say his detractors are after him for the secrets of immortality and permanent youth, and the secret of turning lead into gold. Many a duke and comte has accused this mage of seducing their noble lady wives. He is a suave and dashing man constantly on the move, trailing new mages, authorities, and con-men in his wake.

30. The Bumbling Old Mage
The stereotypical elderly mage with the long white beard, pointy hat and spectacles. His magic is immense, yet he almost never uses it, and spends as much time talking about his quirks and personal foilables as he does about matters at hand or magic in general.

The Mech Jock
A mech isn’t much without a pilot sitting in the command seat. Dominated as it is by anime tropes, most mecha pilots that are seen fall into a small number of baskets, the most common being the high school student who just happens to be the most gifted pilot in the world. This list of 30 will follow the more western style of mecha, with the machines in question being walking tanks. No acrobatics, no energy swords, and none of the machines have heads with expressive humanoid faces.

On to the pilots.

1. Lt. Qian Shaopuon

Lt. Shaopuon is an example of a true mech ace, he has served in six theatres of combat, from urban warfare on Earth to extreme combat enviroments on the Moon, Mars, and in space. Qian has a rustic nature to him, an easy smile and a generous streak as well. One might expect him to be more at home in a rice paddy rather than being one of the most decorated mech pilots in history. Qian’s self-depreciating manner has made him popular to the the point where he has appeared in popular media from talk shows to cameos in pop-war and pop-action movies.

2. Lt. Col. Mauricio Luer

Newly assigned to the unit, Luer is a highly recommended mech jock with numerous recommendations, but almost all of his mission files are sealed. Luer is actually an agent of the Intelligence Department and as such is frequently called upon to perform covert operations that are beyond what is expected, and sometimes legal, for a mech pilot. In public he is likable and jovial with a slight air of incompetence. In private he is a withdrawn man, the gregarious nature all part of his intel training.

3. Pvt. Alexander Godwin

Not all mech jocks are associated with a standing military. Godwin is a freelance mercenary, a lone gun. His heavy mech is in patchwork shape, but despite it’s shabby appearance it shouldn’t be underestimated. Everything from the sensor systems to the engine have been modded and out and tweaked. Years as a freebooter and smuggler taught Godwin the lesson of having aces up your sleeves. He is a genuinely likeable scoundrel with a taste for gin, cards, and blondes.

4. Maj. Oscar Albritton

Having served in the mech corps since his teenage years, Albrittion is a heavy decorated serviceman who no longer sees frontline action. After a short stint as a mech trainer, he is now employed by one of the major mech manufacturers where he is a design consultant and test pilot. Albritton has high security clearance and is familiar with everything from the light scouts to the black ops stealth machines. Outside of his machine, he is a gentleman most often found on a golf course chewing on a Havanna black.

5. Col Marisol Luppino

The argument that women do not make good leaders or warriors never helf any sway with Col. Luppino. Hailing from the Phillipines, Luppino is the commander of a mech squadron. While not considered a crack or elite unit, her squadron is one of many that make up the backbone of the Mobile Mech Corps. She and her mechs can be counted on to hold the line, or press any attack. When not going in guns blazing, Marisol and her squadron are known for playing ethnic music, dancing, and having an underground distilling operation.

6. Lt. Valentin Seiberlich

Most any mech jock can pilot his machine with some level of skill. Lt. Seiberlich can move his machine like it was his own body. Rather than ponderous and clumsey, his mech can almost dance with the skill he has at the control. Seiberlich makes shows of this, picking up delicate things like expensive cars and people with his mech and putting them back down unharmed. His supervisors really wish he would stop, but then it has done wonders with establishing good will with the locals. Outside of his tin can, Seiberlich is proficient in tumbling and basic acrobatics and has a weakness for large women.

7. Deputy Minister Pasquale Molinary

No longer recognized by his former rank of Major, Molinary hasn’t sat his increasingly large rear into a mech cockpit in years. In his salad days, Molinary was a dashing mech jock the holo-casts depict. His career was mediocre and he saw minimal action. What was important was that after his service, he entered into party politics. The road to leadership is out of his reach, but Molinary is using his influence and position to become a cabinet member of the government and overseer of mech operations. He still knows his way around a stompy big robot, but he is more accustomed to padded limos and chartered jets now.

8. Lt. Paul Crutchfield

The Crutchfields have been career military for twelve generations and counting. It is a badge of honor for the men of the family to serve in wartime, and even the most elite of Crutchfields will at least serve in regional guards. Paul is no different, and has spent the last three years in the Heavy Guards. Piloting the largest of mechs, Crutchfield has seen plenty of action, and despite his youth, his planning shows an almost uncanny level of experience. What he keeps to himself is that he sees the ghost of his great grandfather who guides him in battle. He isnt sure of the ghost is real or if he has just taken one too many hits to the head. Either way, his service record is littered with the broken frames of enemy mechs and burnt out tanks.

9. Lt. Everette Degregorio

Some of his fellow jocks are starting to worry about Degregorio, and his ground crew is getting tired of his superstitions. Since surviving a drastic explosion in a previous machine, Lt. Degregorio has become paralytically superstitious. His mech’s cockpit is festooned with good luck charms, and he wears a piece of his old mech as an amulet to protect him from another explosion. He is a decent pilot, but his paranoia is slowly eroding his performance in the field, and it wont be long before he is either discharged or sent for psychiatric evaluation.

10. Lt. Aurelia Spataro

Voted most likely to Succede in her gradating class, Lt. Spataro started as a rising star mech pilot. Her skill and performance are exception, but she has been court martialed twice, and both have left black marks on her record. The lieutenant has been reprimanded multiple times for collateral damage and civil casualties in her sorties, all of which seems to do no good. Spataro is deeply disturbed, and her violence on the battlefield is based in deep racial and cultural hatreds. Her accidental misfires, and missed shots against enemy targets are little more than obfuscation for what is cold blooded murder.

11. Col. Akira Okiketa

After serving four tours of duty in the line of combat, Col. Okiketa was retired from active combat by the brass and placed as a combat instructor. Now, some thirty years later he is a tired old man. His heart isnt in the fight anymore as he has seen so many of his students go out and die. Not from lack of training or ability, but from bad luck, failure on the part of the military to support them in the field, and a dozen other pathetic ways to fall. The Colonel is a likeable man, one dead set against his son taking up the mech jock path.

12. Lt. Erwin Dobrich

There are a certain group of young men who when given nothing but common expections and excess liesure take up the life of the scoundrel. These troublemakers often excel when given challenges to their intellect and capability. If he had not been drafted into the military and promoted to the Mech Corps, Dobrich would have lived a life of fast stole vehicles and cheap easy women. Instead he is one of the best mech jocks in the battalion. A crack shot with a rail gun or laser carbine, he is well decorated and one of the pre-eminent pilots. He is also rash in combat, often leaving his squadron running to keep up as he advances guns blazing. Everything is done at full throttle, be it fighting, drinking, or running amok in the bars.

13. Lt. Misha Cammarota

Women are uncommon in the ranks of mechwarriors, but they are not unheard of. This generally leaves these female pilots to prove their worth and skill in what is largely a male dominated field. Cammarota has been forced to prove her skill more times than most women, a fact unfortunately due to her blonde hair and attractive body. After fighting too many training duels that went too far, she has gained a chimp on her shoulder. Rather than allowing herself to be accepted as another mech jock, Lt. Cammarota constantly strives to prove not her worth, but her superiority over her squadron mates. While this has given her an impressive combat record, her machine is in less than optimal condition due to her rough handling, and she has since alienated herself from the rest of the squadron.

14. Jr. Col. Trent Dalenburg

The Dalenburgs have been aristocrats for generations, well accustomed to pomp and privelage due to their wealth, influence, and support of the government and the military. Unfortunately tradition doesn't equal skill. With the right connections and donations, the youngest Dalenburg has had his commision purchased, and his war machine given to him out of obligation and not out of personal skill or merit. The has resulted in Junior Colonel Dalenburg being one of the worst pilots in the Regional Defence Force, an inept mech squad commander, and a joke in the eyes of the other pilots. Duty demands that they follow his orders, or face court martial. Rather than understanding his imcompetence, Dalenburg thinks along the lines of the mecha holodramas and thinks he can lead his men into combat like the Gunman.

15. Pvt. Theodore 'Teddy' Altermann

Private Teddy Altermann is one of the last people anyone would expect to be a mech pilot. He is a quiet man with a disposition for reading poetry, taking photographs, and tending his own garden of tobacco. He is seldom seen without a weathered pipe in his hand of puffing in his mouth. Now in his early 40s, Altermann is a sort of father figure in the squadron, and the backman for the squadron commander. This has given Altermann's squadron a sense of commraderie not seen in many units, and the rest of his fellow pilots look up to him as the old man who has seen plenty of combat, the chap who will hold the line, and keep his nerve even when the chips are down. Altermann has declined promotion several times, each time citing that he's just a farm hand who is a bit lucky with a clanker.

16. Lt. Kendra Litton

When Kendra appeared on the scene, most media moguls considered her just another celebu-tard looking to make a fast buck with her pretty face. For a while, her career languished in pop limbo. It was later that she enlisted in the military, expecting to be sent to the entertainment Corps to entertain troops singing cover songs in base cantinas. Her scores ended up putting her in the cockpit of a medium sized battlemech. Litton only served one tour of duty, scoring three kills and finding herself in the heat of battle. After ending her stint in the mech corps, Litton became an honest celebrity. Instead of pop and media glitz, she involved herself in theatre, leading her actors and stage crews with a confidence found under enemy gunfire. Litton still tours, but it is a more refined musician and actress than the airhead entertainer from years before. Litton is also popular as a media correspondent and frequent commentor in media news outlets.

17. Lt. Edward 'Eddie" Foy

Combat is stressful, and after a career in the iron saddle, the stress is starting to show on Foy. Now up to two and a half packs of smokes a day, and a hard drinking habit to boot, most of the squadron considers him the toughest, meanest old codger in a mech. Foy is pragmatically brutal, finishing off foes ruthlessly, a cig clamped in his lips as he pushes his machine like a farmer driving rented mules. The brass is considering retiring Foy, or moving him to backline operations, but for the time being, he is the iron dog of the squadron.

18. President Thomas Reynolds McCurry

It is a common tradition for Presidents of the United States and the leaders of other world powers to come from military backgrounds. McCurry served his country as an advanced scout, piloting not one of the iron behemoths or walking fortresses but in a small tin can with light weapons and long legs. McCurry's tenure in the military lasted through a major war, with him serving in two major campaigns, six battles and uncounted skirmishes and recon missions. After the war, he was promoted to a command, and eventually retired from service to persue a career in politics; six years as a provincial/state representative, then another four in the national assembly. Now, he is the man in the suit waving from behind the podium. He hasnt' driven a mech in years, but his support for the military and the Mobile Mech Corps is unshakable.

19. Maj. James 'Grubb' Gruber

Grubb is the father-like commander of an expeditionary/garrison mech force deployed in a semi-remote location. Grubb is a sardonic and quick witted commander, fighting with skill and elan that belies the secondary quality of his mechs and the mismatched cadre of mech jocks under his command. Grubb frequently goes against the spirit of orders while maintaining the letter of command, in the end caring more for his men and their wellbeing than for the saber rattling and posturing of distant generals with their polished gold epaulets.

20. Cmdr. Varga

Varga is an enigma to his commander and to the rest of his units. A young man of Eastern Indian heritage, Varga has neither friends nor family, he only has regular visits from military doctors and some unknown specialists. His file is sealed. On the battlefield he is efficient, accurate with his gunnery, and moves his machine with an uncanny grace. Varga is part of a military experiement to turn humans into living CPUs for battlemechs. He has had a portion of his brain removed, the rest modified with electronic and computer implants. He drives the machine not with yokes, throttles and other manual controls, but through a direct hardline connection to the mechs control systems and computers. He has no past, exhibits strange fugue states, and has almost no personality to speak of. He does have a small cat he keeps hidden in his bunk, but for the time being the infraction is being overlooked.

21. Capt. Pei Lizon

Lizon comes from a country/faction whose military industry isn't quite up to par with the common tech level. This has left Lizon and other mechwarriors of his nationality in second line machines. This has also forced Lizon to be a more innovative leader. While true, he cannot claim that his machines are inferior, they are in fact the best his faction can produce. A quiet man with a penchant for drinking ceremonial tea, Lizon is a fast thinking warrior who uses terrain, decoys and ruses and any other ideas he can to overcome the lesser quality of his mech in combat. In combat, Lizon is tenacious, having earned the nickname 'Badger' since digging him and his squadron out of an area is as hard as digging a badger out of his den.

22.Maj. Krystal Pieczynski

The Major, as most of her troops call her, comes from a long lineage of old European nobility. While the blood no longer carries the same legal status as it used to, and the family lands are no longer in family hands, there is still a warrior spirit. Pieczynski claims heritage to the Hussars of Poland, and leads her battalion of fast mechs on lightning raids and punishing strikes that make her a foe to be reckoned with. She holds her officers to a very high standard, and herself to an even higher set of expectations.

23. Lt. Cole Straiton

Lt. Straiton has a decent service record in the Mobile Mech Corps, several kills in combat, valor in the line of duty, and generally a solid soldier. He is considered a charmed warrior as he has survived the destruction of three mechs, one of which was destroyed in a catastophic explosion. His psych reports come back clean and a few months later he has a new machine and is back in front line service. A tall lean man with a quick smile, Cole also carries scars from his experiences, mostly burns on one of his arms, and a scar across the bridge of his nose and across his cheek. Charismatic to a fault, Straiton is expected to become top brass, provided he doesnt get killed along the way.

24. Pvt. Randall Basemore

Basemore isnt the sort of chap you expect to find in the mech corps. His introduction to mechanized warfare came entirely be accident. During a raid near his home, an enemy mech was disabled, it's pilot seriously wounded. Basemore and his family took the pilot prisoner and Basemore attempted to commandeer the enemy mech. Basemore would destroy two damaged enemy mechs, several light vehicles, and caused considerable damage to an enemy logistics base before the machine he stole shut down due to damage and power failures. After the campaign, the military hunted down Basemore and gave him a position in the military considering his accomplishments. Basemore, currently in his 50s, finds the notion of stomping around in a mech highly amusing.

25. Sgt. Demetria 'Gunner' Guenette

Sgt. Guenette served her country for nearly a decade from the command console of first a medium battlemech, and then for the better part of that time, a heavy mech. She has exceptional skill at both gunnery control and piloting her multi-ton machine. After her active service, Gunner was transfered to the Mech Training Corps and now is one of the hardest instructors a cadet can be unlucky enough to draw. While she is considered one of the toughest instructors, she also generally gets the pick of the cadets to draw into her training classes. If you are unlucky enough to get the Gunner, it means she thinks you have potential.

26. Pvt. Cameron Lichtenburg

Lichtenburg has been a mechjock for some years and has gained notoriety both for his combat record, and for the fact that he is legally handicapped. Years before, Lichtenburg lost both of his legs and one hand in an explosion. A few joke that with his prosthetic limbs and cybernetic hand, he is closer to his machine than any other pilot in the corps. He is a genially likeable person who has a good eye and a steady hand, and takes no pride in killing, but does in doing what he does the best that he can. Most of his confirmed kills are not from secondary explosions or headshots, but from disabling machines by taking out legs or as he calls it 'pop-a-topping' engines.

27. Lt. Rudolph Matheney

Matheney is a dyed in the wool nationalist/patriot. He is young, zealous, and ready to face and challenge against his nation, be it a military mission or someone bad mouthing his country. His enthusiasm makes him a natural leader that younger inexperienced pilots tend to gravitate to, but enthusiasm doesn't win battles. His mech has Patriotic markings beyond unit markings and insignia, and he has tattoos to match. For the time being he is an acceptible squadron sub-commander, but he looses men and machines under him frequently. What is more disturbing is that rather than show remorse or regret for the men who have died following his orders, he considers it an honor for them to die for their country.

28. Pvt. Preston Zavaleta

In ancient times, warriors were expected to be artists, muscians, or poets in addition to being highly trained soldiers. Zavaleta is such a relict. He pilots his machine with competence and while not an ace, he is a solid team player and can be relied on to be in his place doing his part in combat. Outside of the mech, he is a painter and a poet. He admits his poetry is bad, but his watercolor paintings have garnered him some attention. Critics point out the violent dichotomy in his work between the serene landscapes and the fearsome wounds left behind after a battle.

29. Capt. Kittie Neubecker

Neubecker is a legend among mech captains. Her exploits decades ago are the stuff of Historical re-enactments and history channel specials. Now in her sixties, Kittie Neubecker is the Grand Dame of the Base, and more often found behind a desk or doing field evaluations from the back of a jeep with a pair of binoculars. When the time calls though, she can slip into a jumpsuit and with sheer personal willpower, charisma, and decades of experience, turn the tide of a battle. Most believe that Capt. Neubecker is going to make General soon enough, and that will be a great day for the Mech Corps.

30. MROTC Cadet Kyle Layfield

Currently a teenager in high school, Layfield has ambitions of being a mech pilot. He thinks he has the skills and the guts to pilot 100 tons of anthropomorph iron into battle. Much of this confidence is teenage bravado bolstered by having logged a whole 10 hours in simulator time. Like the vids, he thinks he will be a run-away ace when they drop him in his first warmachine! When he is actually put into his first non-simulation trainer mech, he is likely to either cause the machine to crash gracelessly (which is fairly common) or simply freeze up faced with the array of gauges, screens, and controls in front of him (which is most common)

1) Player One (aka Jared Oswald): The founder of The Players Cult, Player One disappeared five years ago and is by now a near-mythical figure within the cult. Some say that he discovered the way Out, and has left clues for the devout to follow. Still others say that he will return one day, and bring about the End Game. The only people who know for sure what he looks like are Mega, Meta and Exodus, and they have little motivation to go looking for him.

2) Player Two (aka Scott Inskeep): Cofounder of the cult, Player Two was also the Cult’s first casualty. In life he was the glue that kept the first group together -- the heart of the cult even as Jared was the brains. Pictures of him still exist on the obituary profile his family keeps up on several social networking sites -- a spindly, gray-eyed man with a shock of dark hair and a winning smile. Oddly, cryptic comments and links will sometimes be posted to his old profiles, leading some to believe that his accidental “death” may not have been what it seemed.

Power Gamers

3) Mega (aka Josh Norris): At just under six feet, Mega is somewhat shorter than his name would imply, but has more than enough combat skill to secure his position at the top of the Power Gamers Guild. An army brat and ROTC student before joining up with Jared and Scott, he knows the value of properly applied force. He keeps his head shaved and sports several Cult tattoos that he commissioned after his first stint in prison -- one of several he’s served since joining the Players.

The experience has hardened him. He runs his guild like a gang, and will not hesitate to move against anyone that threatens his new “family”. Expect him to have three weapons within reach at all times (a main sidearm and two holdouts) -- even while he sleeps. He knows how to use them, too.

4) Frag: One gets the sense that Frag played with a lot of fireworks as a child. Probably illegal ones, at that. His passion for explosions is unrivaled among his peers, and he always seems to know the right type of charge to use in a given situation. Always carrying at least three types of grenades on his person, Frag is the go-to choice when the Players need a more violent distraction.

5) Gank: Unlike the better fighters, Gank can’t hold his own in one-on-one combat, and he knows it. His small size is a disadvantage that he wasn’t able to overcome with training. Luckily, his brain has no such handicap. Able to quickly analyze the tactics in any situation -- even an all-out slugfest -- Gank inserts himself into combat where he can do the most damage. A knife in the back or side of an opponent while they are engaged with one of the other Players may be all it takes. And he will always remember to take the second shot once an opponent is down.

6) Gib: Boasting the best hand-eye coordination of the Power Gamers, Gib spends his days shooting. Shooting at people on screens, shooting at targets on a range, shooting darts, and shooting off his mouth. Mega tolerates his attitude because he’s the best sniper the Cult has got -- Gib has proven that his talents are transferable to real-life assassinations on more than one occasion. Still, if he keeps shooting looks at Meta, Mega may arrange for Gib to have a range accident.

7) Grind: What Grind lacks in natural talent, he makes up for in sheer determination. He has spent hundreds of hours on the shooting range and in the Power Gamer’s dojo, and as a result is surprisingly competent in just about every combat skill they teach -- just not a master of any. Still, don’t expect him to be out of the fight after a few punches. He has a great ground game, and is not above tripping an opponent to get him into a grapple. The choke hold soon follows.

8) Bane: Unlike most cult members (who are usually ex-college students or clueless high school dropouts), Bane was a violent convict before his indoctrination. Recruited in prison by Mega, Bane had no great difficulty passing the recruitment phase. Rather, the Players had a more difficult time finding someone that Bane still cared about. In the end, Bane killed his own sister in under five minutes -- a record that he still holds today. He is unnervingly intelligent, unwaveringly loyal to Mega, and willing to kill anyone that Mega orders him to, including former Players.

9) Lobo: Another former convict, Lobo has some truly sick appetites that he is now able to enjoy on a semi-regular basis, thanks to the Cult. He rapes and murders NPC prostitutes for the thrill he gets as they scream and struggle. Sometimes, he even lets them run away with gaping wounds in their legs and hindquarters, shooting them in the back just as they reach the door. Other Players privately wonder if he is insane. His favored weapon is a long, curved knife that he uses with suspicious skill.

10) Zerg: Zerg doesn’t have a death-wish, but his propensity to charge head-first into fights makes some of the other Power Gamers cringe. He’s one of the newer Players, in that dangerous phase between accepting their life is a Game, and learning they are not invincible. Zerg is worshipfully loyal of Mega, and obviously spent a lot of time playing fighting games -- he prefers theatrics and big, one-liners to common sense and stealth. Lobo finds him amusing. Expect to see him on the front lines, swinging around a freaking katana instead of using a more sensible (and less cool) pistol.

11) Rodeo: So named for his love of vehicles, Rodeo can drive just about anything if you give him a minute to figure out the controls. He has hijacked construction equipment, light aircraft and even a few military grade vehicles that were under-guarded. Rodeo has an easy-going personality that most Power Gamers lack, and is often sent out on recruiting missions to college campuses in one of the more flashy (legal) vehicles. His stories of wild chases and adventures (some true) usually manage to draw a few curious souls into the fold.

12) Vertigo: Before joining in with the Players, Vertigo had been arrested several times for trespassing and reckless behaviour -- hazards that a Parkour hobbyist learns to accept. The Players offered her protection and acceptance, and she has developed her natural skills to an almost ninja-like edge. She can get onto (or into) any building or structure that doesn’t have military-level security, and can even leave packages or messages behind. Vertigo acts as a special delivery service for the Cult, and often accompanies the Puzzle Gamers on field work, acting as general lookout and backup for the less combat-oriented Players.

Puzzle Gamers

13) Meta (aka Anya Smith): Double majoring in computer science and theatre before joining up with the Players, Meta is of average height and above-average looks -- an advantage that she shamelessly exploits when recruiting or pumping an outsider for information. She is the face of the Cult, though the most anyone usually sees of her is a darkened silhouette accompanying a steady, silken voice. Meta knows how to pull peoples’ strings, has dirt on just about everybody, and knows many more things she shouldn’t. What she doesn’t know, she can usually find out.

As the leader of the Puzzle Gamers, she has a capable network of spies and hackers that are extremely loyal and protective of her. She has a love/hate relationship with Mega (they’ve had a series of one-nighters and short stints as a couple, but nothing that stuck) and thinks of Exodus as a close friend. Expect to find her in a slouch hat, baggy pants and a tight gaming t-shirt, in a dark room backlit by computer screens.

14) Switch & Flick: Also knows as the Tech Twins, Switch and Flick were interns in the IT department of a major university before joining up with the Cult. Gawky ginger-headed youths with little evident sun exposure, Switch & Flick enjoy playing the occasional tech prank on anyone who makes the mistake of calling them “ginger” -- they’ve had Zerg’s ringtone set to a Justin Bieber song for weeks now -- but refrain from really malicious stuff. They keep the Players’ equipment running smoothly, and can fix, tweak, upgrade and build almost anything electronic.

15) Mana: Mana is convinced that he is capable of learning magic -- real magic -- if only he can figure out the way to unlock that potential within the Game. He’s the Cult’s primary investigator into the occult and has studied dozens of religions and mythologies. Mana has been pestering Meta to invest more resources in Cult activities regarding the Seven Ancient Wonders of the world. Perhaps collecting an artifact from each site is the key to unlocking Real Ultimate Power!

16) Patch: One of the more “field-active” Puzzle Gamers, Patch knows networks. She maintains the Cult’s internal and external communications, and is on call 24/7 to deal with emergencies. She can exploit security holes in a foreign network, and is responsible for opening and obscuring hidden access points in systems and locations of interest to the Cult. Often, this requires going to a location in person and Rodeo usually accompanies her as getaway driver. She has a huge crush on him, but hasn’t worked out the courage to tell him yet.

17) Bit: Bit is your typical movie hacker (in his own mind at least). More of a script-kiddie than a true software guy, Bit still knows a few useful tricks. The only “programming” he can do is in Javascript, but he has used that to crack into a few unsecured databases, like those of schools and non-profits. Bit has a crippling caffeine addiction, an undersized frame and an overdeveloped ego. He has unwittingly attracted the attention of several govt. agencies and a dozen computer security firms with his blundering attempts at “hacking”.

18) Wiz: Wiz is brilliant -- he has an IQ bordering on savant and can divide his attention in a dozen ways at once. He is generally found in a special room of his own, along with a couple of whiteboards covered in cryptic shorthand and about a half-dozen computer monitors, all on different websites. Wiz is responsible for information warfare on behalf of the Cult. He spreads rumors about Cult enemies, manages online auctions of illicit goods, maintains contact with hundreds of informants and can either increase or decrease Cult visibility, depending on his current orders from Meta. Outside of his “zone”, Wiz is painfully shy and horribly awkward in social situations.

19) Poly: Poly has so many covers, it’s hard to get a pin on what she’s really like under the act. At one moment, she’s a visiting VIP from a parent company, there to “get to the bottom” of your team’s apparent failings. The next moment she’s an emergency responder, directing curious bystanders away from more conspicuous Cult activities. A consummate actress, Poly collects accents like they are playing cards and is one of the Cult’s best spies (and distractions). She works well with Wiz, and the two are a bit of an item.

20) Enigma: The essence of a Puzzle Gamer, Enigma has a wild imagination and even wilder plans for the future of the Cult. She sees herself taking over after Meta one day, and is careful to insert herself into most of the planning & strategy meetings -- even when not invited. If she wasn’t so good at sussing out emerging patterns in the currency markets (and making the Cult a lot of money in the process), Meta would probably have clamped down harder on her by now.

21) Crypto: Crypto is an ex-PhD student in mathematics and cryptography. He sees hidden connections and messages everywhere, and has a highly-developed sense of paranoia. Couple that with a fondness for hallucinogenic drugs that help him “see” the hidden messages, and Crypto’s predictions are often worse than useless. When down off his high, however, his perception and vigilance can pay off -- sometimes in a big way. He can be amazingly accurate, both in predicting anti-Cult activity and in deciphering hidden patterns in current events. Meta knows that if Crypto says something once, she can usually ignore him. If he says it on two separate occasions, something is probably up.

22) Pseudo: Pseudo is an undercover outsider -- either an officer of the law, or a plant for a different power group, depending on the game. He makes himself useful by acting as a double agent within that group, “spying” for the Cult on his real employers and feeding them misleading or unimportant data. Pseudo is such a good liar that Meta doesn’t suspect him yet, but Crypto is beginning to wonder about the encrypted messages he sometimes sends from within the Cult’s network.

Death Bringers

23) Exodus (aka Joe Porter): Exodus knew both Players One and Two for years before they formed the Cult, and he was also their first recruit. A close friend of both, he was hit especially hard when Scott died and Jared skipped town. Afterwards, most expected Joe to abandon the Players or at least try to follow them by killing himself. He didn’t. Instead, he hung onto the fringes of the Cult, fading into the background as the Players grew in number. Exodus eventually turned his grief over his friends’ loss into a niche for himself. When a Player begins to lose hope, he counsels them through it or at least helps them find death in a “meaningful” way. He’s the closest thing the Cult has to a priest.

In time, Exodus built up his own small Guild comprised of death-seekers and the suicidally depressed, people the other Guilds are not equipped to handle. An unimposing man with honey brown hair and soulful brown eyes, he maintains an unwavering loyalty for the absent Player One. He rarely speaks, but when he does, the other Players listen -- even Meta and Mega. He helps to balance them, and his steady advice has saved the Cult from disaster more than once.

24) Shard: Shard passed the initiation phase of the Players Cult, but was broken in the process. He beat his then-girlfriend bloody during The Swearing, giving her brain damage from which she never recovered. At the time, he had been drunk on power and sadism. Afterwards, he couldn’t bear the shame of what he had done. Shard wants out of the Cult, but is too cowardly to go to the authorities and too terrified of seeing his ex again. He spends his days as high as possible, not having worked up the courage to overdose.

25) Kluge: Kluge is one of those young veterans who fell through the cracks in the system. After receiving a disabling injury overseas, Kluge returned to lackluster veteran support and medical care that left him with a replacement arm and leg, but little else. Post-traumatic stress disorder ended his marriage early, and strained relations with the rest of his family. The Players offered him respite, companionship, and recreational drugs to help take the edge off his misery. Due to his prosthetics, Kluge isn’t going on field missions for the Cult, but he does provide some much-needed tactical experience via walkie-talkie to the more reckless Power Gamers.

26) Phreak: A Player is a Player -- worthy of receiving help and guidance from the rest of the group. If that wasn’t the case, Phreak might have been abandoned at a mental facility months ago. He was actually part of the original group that dropped out of university together, along with Players One and Two, Meta, Mega and Exodus. Back then he was much like Gib -- brash, confident and excited to be part of something so damned cool. A couple of years later, and his body has mostly wasted away from hard drug use. A series of bad trips screwed up his mind pretty badly, too. The Death Bringers care for him at Exodus’ insistence, but his time is coming. Phreak doesn’t have much strength left in him, but you may find him with a gun in his hand (or a bomb on his chest) and madness in his eyes, let loose in a situation where his death could provide the others with a meaningful distraction.

27) Demo: Demo wants to destroy The Game, and is willing to bring the whole world down to accomplish that. He’s probably the most furious of the Players, nursing a deep-seated hatred for the imagined race of people who trapped him here. He sees every NPC as agents of his imprisonment, and derives no small satisfaction from inflicting pain and other suffering on them. As such, Demo is the Cult’s chief torturer/interrogator. Exodus is worried about his mental stability; of the Death Bringers, Demo is the most likely to go rogue and piss off the authorities.

28) Worm: Unlike Bit, Worm actually has a great deal of skill in hacking, having written his first piece of software when he was still in grade school. Unfortunately, it’s hard to get him to bother with much these days. Worm has become jaded and bitter after years of chasing false leads on the End Game. Every system he cracked, every bit of information he gleaned from secure sources, simply led to more disappointment. Worm couldn’t know that Meta used a lot of his finds to blackmail and rob various officials and industry leaders. She would dearly love to have his skills back, but for now Worm is in self-imposed retirement.

29) Jinx: Jinx was a Power Gamer, back when she joined the Cult. And a damned good one, too. Though she wasn’t much of a fighter, she had nearly completed and EMT certification course, and was the Guild’s top scorer when it came to wilderness and survival skills. All that changed when a Cult raid of a private medical facility met with much stronger resistance than expected. The supposedly unguarded firm was crawling with private security goons, and Jinx’s entire cell was cut down around her. She was the only survivor. Since then, she hasn’t been any good for field work, believing that she is cursed somehow.

30) Sushi: No one really knows where the nickname comes from. He has enough scars covering his face and neck that some think he was “carved up like Sushi,” while others believe that his silent exterior hides a cold-blooded murderer. Perhaps he cuts up his opponents into Sashimi and eats them raw. Sushi won’t (or can’t) say. The only certainty is that this small, unasuming Asian will do anything that Exodus asks of him, quietly and without any undue mess. Only Exodus knows what his real motives are.

Located in the northern part of Saerith and allied to the usurper nation of Sidious Praxingdrell, Nyir is a phlegmatic land of overcast skies and choppy seas. The inhabitants, once nomadic barbarians, are now compentent and capable warriors more than willing to cross swords, hammers, and flails with any foe who dares to stand against them. It is only respect for the strength of sorcery that Sidious Prax commands that keeps the men of Nyir her allies rather than her foes.

1. Ara the Blade
Hailing from one of the many Nyir noble houses, Ara is a middle son who can only find his own glory by traveling and lending his skill with a sword where it is needed, be it to defend Nyir from ogres, or leading soldiers to battle with his Praxian allies. Ara has a noble disposition and is a natural leader not yet grown into his stirrups.

2. Nyshan Firstcomer
A stealthy man with long mustaches and considerable skill with the bow and with the hunting knife, Nyshan is a bounty hunter and a hunter or animal game. Quiet to the point of silence, Nyshan is a deep and introspective man who deeply loves nature.

3. Ohan of Nyir
A men among men, Ohan is considered the ideal of what Nyir warriors are supposed to be, clad in reinforced leather armor and carrying a heavy morningstar and a shortsword. Ohan is honorable in battle but displays the pragmaticism of the Nyir when using allies and barbarians in battle. His is the stonebiten face that withstands the cold winds.

4. Sevan Lakebrother
More at home on the glacially cold waters of the Nyir Hannin, Sevan is a fisherman who is adept at using javelins and spears in battle, though dragons and horses leave him unsettled. He is more comfortable on a wooden deck than on an earthen field.

5. Vartann the Gardener
While many think the name to sound less than intimidating, they learn quickly that his roses are actually a matched set of one-handed axes, each etched with roses and thorns. With these tools the Gardener prunes back the unworthy limbs of his foes until the roses drip red.

6. Zeroun the Elder
A good two decades older than the other men, Zeroun has seen many campaigns and ridden into many battles and has the scars and trophies to prove it. While not a leader, the other Nyir look to Zeroun when things get tough, he’s been there before and knows what to do to keep himself and the others alive through it.

7. Arshavir the Horseman
Befor Prax, the men of Nyir were horsemen first and foremost. Though the elite Black Wings are considered the best, the cavalry remains a potent force. Arshavir flies into battle swinging a heavy bladed Nyir battlesword, loping off heads, breaking shields and maiming limbs, his cape of emerald pather fur flying on the wind behind him.

8. Emin of Nine Lakes
Hailing from the all but unknown township of Nine Lakes, Emin is a stout hearted man who joined the ranks of soldiers to protect his remote home from the bands of ogres, orcs and other monsters of the northlands. He is wary of the menace of Prax and dislikes the Nyir alliance with her and her sorcerous elves.

9. Gharabed Shieldbreaker
A bear of a man with a sour disposition to match, Gharabed strides into battle with a heavy maul with the intent of splintering shields, crushing helms and bringing quick death and ruin to the foes of Nyir. Under his dour demeanor he is a genuinely pious man and can quote scripture under his breath as he swings his maul over and over again.

10. Hrag Firestarter
This thin and wirey Nyir carries a light mace and an oil soaked torch. taking a draught from his flask he uses to torch to set enemies on fire. Before being impressed into the ranks, Hrag was a circus performer who found his love of fire had greater admirers than the common folk who paid in copper. The army pays in gold and lets him see the orange flames to his heart’s content.

11. Kousan the Nightinggale
An able stalker and thief, Kousan is known for stealing horses and women from enemies, sending their troops into ambushes or in the wrong direction, and favors the use of poison darts and a baited shortsword. He is very adept at mimicking birdsong with his whistling.

12. Katcheres the Monk
Once a man of the cloth, Katcheres joined the army and marched against Elvindorm after his monastary was raided by the elves and many of it’s members slain by the sword and the bow. He is a cross-faced man with a burning hatred for the elves, and only tolerates the Praxians so long as they fight other elves, he’s planning on taking them out after Elvindorm falls.

13. Levon Lionheart
Born with rare blonde hair, Levon is as fierce as his namesake and though not of noble blood, commands a great deal of respect. Armed with the traditional curved Nyir sword and a punching shield Levon has an aura of greatness about him and all the fortunes cast scry greatness in his future.

14. Mardig at Arms
A soldier’s soldier, Mardig has mastered the use of almost every weapon, from the Nyir Hussar’s mounted flail and hand and a half curved sword to the Praxian Flay-Bar sword or the Saerithian Longbow. Mardig shouts orders as a drill instructor as the men of his group roar into battle.

15. Momig Owl-Eyes
A small man with large eyes, Momig frequents the branches of trees to keep watch at night, his aim in the dark almost unsurpassed even by the elves. Loyal to a fault, Momig is a valiant warrior who knows that his physique isnt up to swinging greatswords in battle and is better suited to sniping foes with his bow.

16. Poppa Nahabed
A decade older than most of the men, Poppa Naha has a stable of young daughters at home and half as many stout sons. When not fighting with the heart of a Nyir war-bear, he is thinking of his children and how to come home to them alive, or to not bring any dishonor to them. He does have five daughters that need to be wed.

17. Parounag Cup-Dweller
A man perpetually in his cups, Parounag is an alcoholic and has a temper to go well with it. He can be alternately calm and then and threatening and violent as a thunderstorm. Many call the Cup-Dweller a berzerker of the old blood and cheer as he streaks himself with blood of the fallen on the battlefield and buy him another cup later in the tavern.

18. Ramzig Boar-Baiter
Many people have gifts, some for tending the injured, others for making beautiful art or musci. Ramzig’s gift is hurting people, with his fists. He is called Boar-Baiter for seeking out the most intimidating foe on the field to face them and break them in battle. Ramzig is good at what he does and wears a number of trophies from men and elves he has slain in battle.

19. Black-Eyes Sevag
Some of the men say Sevag has the evil eye, or the eyes of a murderer. They are right on both counts, as he can hex his foes (minor increase on combat roles against him) and has on more than one occasion commited acts of cold blooded murder. Sevag is a Praxian agent and most often his murder victims are Nyir who speak out too much against the alliance with Praxingdrell.

20. Shahnazar Just-A-Weaver
So called for his common complaint of being a simple weaver of rugs, Shahnazar is a ruthless and efficient fighter who’se skill and dexterity with matched shortswords borders on the insane. Shahnazar has a taste for the nicer things in life and is not above looting after, or even during a battle if the haul is good enough.

21. Trasdamard the Hornet
Trasdamard could insult the sun and cause it to come down from the heavens to fight him, or so he would have others to think. A standard bearer, Trasdamard is a master of taunts, insults and formal challenges. He has helped win more than one battle by shouting goads until a foolish foe charged into overwhelming numbers to silence the Hornet.

22. Tsakig Lockbreaker
Wearing a necklace of crow feathers and fox teeth Tsakig remembers the old paths and the old faiths. He calls upon minor spirits to help him track foes, scent game, and lead foes into tricks like ambushes and to dead ends. He carries a sling, a shortbow, and a single bladed Praxian battleaxe.

23. Handsome Varoujan
There is a certain animal magnetism to the Nyir, and Varoujan has this in spades. his smile melts the hearts of women and a wink can send a scullery maid or an old maid into a swoon. The darker counterpart to Levon, Varoujan is willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish his goals, be it in battle or conquest in the bed chambers.

24. Vrej Skullsplitter
Carrying a heavy morningstar crusted with blood and bits of pulped bone, Vrej sings the song of Death and is without fear or mercy on the battlefield. Many are taken off-guard by this combination of utter brutality and mournful oral music. Let rest Vengeance, for my hand is steady, and only seek the clouds to mourn for me…

25. Yervant the Ox
As broad as an ox and only half as smart, Yervant is gullible and easy to fool by the other Nyir. But his heart is true and he does his best to protect the others of his group with his massive strength. He carries a tower shield and a suitably large morningstar for breaking foes with a single strike.

26. Abirad the Complainer
The soup is cold, the boots are tight, the weather is foul, and the road is too long. If there is a problem Abirad is willing to poitn it out. This scarecrow of a man is a good shot with a longbow, though he complains more bitterly about the bow and his own skill than he does about anything else.

27. Pretty Berj
His mustaches are always impeccable oiled and his armor always clean, Berj is a Nyir equivalent of a dandy, complete with lace cuffs and a duelist’s sword and dagger, though his is issued a standard curved sword whenever the commanders realize he has lost his yet again…

28. Commandant Diran
The innate second in command, Diran is a natural leader and a hunter, as well as an accomplished cavalrymen. Many wonder why such a well connected and skillful soldier is in with the regulars when there are always openings in the Black Wings.

29. Garbis the Ferrier
A skilled blacksmith and ferrier of horses, Garbis is also a notorious drunkard, coward, and womanizer. If not for the demand for men capable of keeping the warhorses in shoes and mending their barding, Garbis would have been relegated to an infantry unit long ago or cycled back to some dead end clerk job in the back alleys of Nyir.

30. Soghomon, Master of Hounds
Once a hunter and a keeper of the Lord’s kennels, Soghomon now leads his hounds to war where they unmount foes, tear and limbs and sniff out foes while he picks them off with his curved bow and hunting knives and axes. Soghomon eats and sleeps with his hounds, to keep the bond strong, he says.

Appearance
Whereas the mustered soldiery of an army wear the same fighting colors and carry the same basic weaponry, Mercenaries range from blending in with normal troops to exotic looking and often uniquely frightening beings armed with strange weapons, odd fighting styles and strong sentiments of individuality and commercial combat.

History/Background
For as long as there has been gold and organized combat, there have been mercenaries. As outside parties fighting in wars that are not their own in exchange for financial gain, mercenaries are not given the same level of treatment as regular soldiers. This often vicious men and rare women are as often executed on sight when captured as they are held as prisoners or interrogated. This lack of rights protection means that mercenaries do not lay down arms and surrender, unless they are facing other mercenaries and then it is a matter of professional curtesy.

The biggest thing that haunts the merc profession is the perceived lack of integrity on the part of mercenaries hired. Indeed the very name brings to mind the image of the gritty opportunistic soldier of fortune who sells his service to the highest bidder, even switching side in the middle of a conflict. While it cannot be said that this never happens, it is far less common than is thought.

In the generic fantasy setting, Mercenary Guilds, the medieval counterpart to modern Private Military Companies or Security Contractors, regulate such behavior. An additional boon to there being a guild would be the chance that the guild would ‘purchase’ or ransom mercenaries back from their captors, though even this would not make killing mercs on sight any less common.

Special Equipment
Trying to list the basic equipment of a merc would be very difficult as each merc operates in a unique fashion, ranging from heavily equiped ex-patriots from other militaries to ethnic bounty-hunters, and masters of a certain weapon hot and ready to try their skills against living foes.

1. Captain-at-Arms Kjarri
The Captain once served proudly in the army of a distant kingdom, where he was given many awards and many honors. However, dark times fell on the Captain when his kingdom was overthrown in a violent coup d’tat and he went from state hero to a public enemy. Exiled by his own efforts, Kjarri is an ethnic warrior who wears the armor and the shield with great dignity as the only avenue left to an old warhorse like himself is to be a mercenary. Kjarri bears a heavy single-bladed sword, a round shield, a brace of dagger and full plate armor. He likely has a small cohort of other ex-patriots from his fallen homeland.

2. Drill Commandant Chaban
Not all half-orcs are fur clad barbarians screaming into bloody battle with whetted axes and no sense. Chaban was raised in obscure poverty, raised by a single human mother who never blamed her strange looking child for the rape that produced him. At an early age Chaban entered the military and found that there was a ceiling that limited how far a half-blood could climb in the ranks. After discharge, Chaban took his natural brutality, mixed it with his training in the King’s heavy infantry and turned himself into a spittle slinging, grunt terrifying, straighten the corners of that bad private or I’ll split your skull like a ripe fragging melon Drill instructor. Seldom armed with more than a short sword, Chaban makes a living training local garrisons, peasant militias, and doing basic training for Mercenary Guild-Houses.

3. Obergfell the Mighty
There are a few words to describe the six foot, six inch bulk of Obergfell of the Northlands. One of them is BIG, another one is INCOMPETENT, and another is OAF. Despite his impressive size, Obergfell is a terrible warrior, and suffers from bad luck that borders on being cursed. Combined with this manic ill-fortune, Obergfell festoons himself with as many lucky charms as he does pieces of slap-dash armor or accumulated weapons. Despite his often comedic faux pas, he is able to just barely stay in a given company and out of the gaol.

4. Rihanek the Wage-Mage
Not all mercs are muscle-bound thugs, some are slender and highly intelligent thugs. Rihanek grew up in an artisan community of half-elves and unlike his mixed-blood brethern, he felt the pull of his burning human blood more than the idyllic blood of his elfin mother. Rihanek learned the bow and the sword as well as the more murderous aspects of the arcane arts. Other mercs get nervous around this whip thin mage as his pleasure isnt gold, it’s killing, be it with sword or with spell. Rihanek has a longsword, an elfin longbow and a vest of elfin chainmail. His repetoire of magic leans towards ripping thorns, conjuring quicksand, and summoning swarms of poisonous serpents, stinging wasps, and choking noxious clouds.

5. Stitgen the Legalist
As a religiously educated man, Stitgen is a stickler for contracts, technicalities and loopholes. Rather than the standard contract of kill those guys, get GP, he will wrangle out contracts that allow him to avoid any pretense of danger, get paid the full amount of the contract and the entire time come off looking like a shining example of the virtue of a hired sword. Other soldiers hate Stitgen as he foists his work off on them, in the process often making the other regular soldiers or mercenaries look bad in the process. He wears ceremonial armor and carries a rarely if ever used broadsword.

6. Souvannakhiry the Healer
Another Half-orc, this one born among the tents of the tribe before being sold to a human slaver, Souvannakhiry was trained to be an herbalist and salve-maker. It was later when she demonstrated some skill with a mace and beat her master’s brains out. Now a free woman, she sells her skills as a first rate field medic to other mercenaries and mundane companies as well as her blindingly fast fist shaped mace. While female mercs often gain reputations as war whores, Souvannakhiry is a virgin devoted to Terat, the Goddess of War and will KO any man who tries to enter her temple.

7. Matuck the Persuader
It is rare to see a goblin selling his services as a mercenary, but few goblins are quite like Matuck. Raised as a house slave of a wealthy family, he grew up in a life of poverty and brutal servitude until one day he exacted his revenge. Leving the house to burn with the bodies inside, Matuck Greenskin, Matuck the dirty little goblin, went into the world to sell his newfound skill: hurting people. While rarely ever seen in the front lines of combat, Matuck is hired by personages who are unable to morally or viscerally stomach torture and interrogation. Matuck smiles with his broken goblin smile and tells his ‘boss’ that he will get what they want from the prisoners, unruly peasants or overly righteous rebels.

8. Armenteros the Veteran
Armenteros has seen more combat by his 21st year than most men see their entire lives. He has also seen his friends butchered on the field of battle, bears scars to show how close he came to joining them. Unlike most other mercs, Armenteros has lost his nerve and is no longer suitable for combat duty. The fresh mercs and many soldiers revere Armenteros for surviving horrific battles, those who know what the dour faced man has lost pity him. This tired soldier would love nothing more than to retire from the sword, but he knows no other profession, and lacks the money to secure any sort of pension or placement as an oblate.

9. Silent Wygle
Elves make for rare mercenaries, but like the rest of his arboreal kin, he is a crack shot with the longbow. With his keen eyes and sharp elven ears, Wygle sells himself as a scout and a look-out and patrol guard. What is odd is that Wygle has no friends or associates among the other mercs and speaks so rarely that many think his tongue to have been cut out by orcs. While stone-faced and an excellent warrior, Wygle is an elven criminal, and is wanted in distant elven lands for the murder of several of his kinsman. This fear of discovery combined with a general distaste for humanity lend Wygle is title.

10. Fat Gurney
Clad in enough leather belts to equip a company, Fat Gurney drips with as many daggers and throwing weapons as he does droplets of sweat. Bordering on 400 pounds, Gurney is a cold and calculating man who rigs gambling games, counts cards, throws knives with deadly accuracy and has fast fingers despite their sausage-like appearance. While most line soldiers scoff at the out-of-shape mercenary, with his years of experience and unique thieving and bluffing skills, he is easily a match for most any soldier less than five years in his spurs.

11. Crazy Govindeisami
Few mercs are as obvious as Crazy Govindeisami. Clad in a jacket of bright red leather dripping with tassels of cheap stones, feathers, and glass beads he stands out even in a crowd of gypsy tinkerers. Govindeisami is a consumate troublemaker, stirring up things between various folk with rumors and gossip as well as a fair amount of pranking and petty theft. Much of this is a ruse as Govindeisami is a consumate assassin-stalker. Having trained as an assassin years ago himself, Gov turned his skills to protecting targets from assassins, and he is very good at his job. The problems he causes are relatively minor but cause major headaches for imposters and intruders, and those cold eyed killer swho worm through the social morass without fail overlook the obviously juvenile and harmless clown in the red jacket until they feel his dagger slide between their ribs.

12. Cole the Outsider
An average looking man of mediocre skill with the axe and sword, Cole is a mole. He was trained in the special service of a kingdom or some other major power and now masquerades as a mercenary. He does this to gather information about the mercenaries that he encounters to determine which are suitable to be hired, who needs to be assassinated, and other black operations. While his tuxedo has been replaced with battered chainmail, the cloak and daggers are all very real and Cole is starting to loose his nerve since he has been placed as a merc so long. He wonders if he has been forgotten or has simply become a liability to be written off in the next orc raid.

13. Zuleger the Unhappy
A grim faced man of middle years, Zuleger hails from a very distant land that can only be reached by lengthy sea voyage. Unlike other expatriots, Zulegar can go home, just as soon as he is able to find enough to coin to purchase passage aboard a transoceanic ship. Being an ethnic foreigner, he has an accent, laments the condition of the food in country and frequently grouses about how much he wants to go home. Tales of his homeland have grown exaggerated, but not quite to the point of being outlandish. He might claim to have three beautiful wives back in his homeland, but he’s not to the point of claiming to be displaced nobility or some other nonsense.

14. Mammican the Featheringham-Man
Having come from a distant land that enjoys an afternoon isiesta/i, Mammican is often perceived as a lazabout and worthless mercenary. While is not spit-polished as the home guard, or as flashy as the other more extravagant mercs, he is avery competent fighter, but what is more, he is a good liason between fighting men and civilians. Many mercs, and regular soldiers for that matter have an image of being a locust swarm devouring all food and supplies in their path, Mammican cajoles better supplies from locals by actually offering to pay for the goods rather than demanding them as most often do, or resorting the raiding like tactics even in friendly territory.

15. Busy Nenniger
Gnomes are rare in the ranks of mercenaries, but Nenniger has found himself a place among the soldiers-for-hire and their gear and mounts. Operating as a freelance tinker and blacksmith, Nenniger stays constantly busy making shoes for the cavalry horses, mending damaged saddles, repairing damaged armor and other things that can be accomplished with fire, hammer, tongs, and patience. The other mercs are of mixed opinion of the small bundle of energy that is the clean shaven gnome. While he is a valuable asset in keeping their gear in shape, the higher ups have started to expect the same level of work out of the other mercenaries that they get out of the gnome. Nenniger knows this and is torn, since working a forge is as stressful to the gnome as sitting in an alehouse taproom is for most soldiers.

16. Bogenschneide the Kingswoman
Never going by her first name, this war tested woman was filled with a monarchial pride and a burning desire to serve her king in what she saw as the most noble profession; a soldier. Unfortunately, the King’s Army didn’t allow women into the fighting ranks, but she could serve if she were to be a scullery maid for an officer or a general’s concubine. Insulted by such offers, Bogenschneide took up a hauberk of ringmail and a polearm and joined a mercenary pike phalanx. Since then, she has found a good living selling her skills as a bounty hunter, a mercenary, and as a personal bodyguard.

17. Steady-Hand Debutiaco
A man of iron nerves, nothing unhinges Debutiaco, not demons, dragons, or unshappen cosmic horrors ripping at the edge of sanity. As a crossbowman, his concentration with his weapon borders on unnatural as he could take an arrow himself and not loose focus for his own shot. Calm and calculating, Debutiaco is a natural born sniper in the era before weapons well suited for sniper action. Secretly Debutiaco worships a death/chaos cult and part of his steel-handed demeanor comes from his absolute lack of fear of death and the other comes from a slowly spreading case of nerve killing leprosy.

18. Eager Czolba
Most mercenaries and soldiers comlpain about nothing to do, but secretly that is exactly what they want, nothing to happen. On the other hand, Czolba has a burning desire to make a place for himself and the only path he sees to that is making himself a wealthy and respected war hero. But to become a war hero, there has to be a war. Until the call comes for him to flock to his lord’s or another lord’s banner Czolba trains and fights under the aegis of being a merc. He is meticulus in the care of his arms and armor and the leaders frequently have to reign in his enthusiasm. In any other occupation, Czolba would have long been hung or locked in the gaols for violence or murder.

19. Freeman Taguz
A true giant among men, Taguz is a full blooded ogre who has joined with the side of humanity to fight as a mercenary. While compentent with his ogre sized axe and cudgel, Taguz rarely gets to fight since the sight of this gient clad in well made armor and bearing quality arms remains a very effective deterrent to small bands of rebels and bandits. Since being ‘civilized’ Taguz has gotten a taste for tea and poetry though he doesnt understand much of it. He still likes his meat to be flame seared on the outside and nearly raw on the inside.

20. Mezquita the Mouse
Not all mercenaries are stout hearted soldiers of fortune. Mezquita is a bundle of raw nerves and twitching muscle, loud noises make him jump, surprises make him scream out often like a little girl and the men take great delight in tormenting the diminutive man whenever possible. However, Mezquita knows many secrets about all of them since he is a latent wererat. Since the shapeshifting was carried by blood, his changes are not under the sway of the moon, but he also lacks a concrete understanding of his conditions and he accounts his activities as a larger than usual rodent as a strange series of dreams that have afflicted him since puberty. Until he uncovers the true nature of his condition and abilities, he will remain a target for the other mercenaries.

21. Handsome Kalkwarf
Looking the part of the romantic swashbuckler, Kalkwarf became a mercenary because he refused to be shaved and tattooed as was the custom of soldiers in his homeland. While only nominally an expatriot, Kalkwarf desires to see the world, taste it’s banquet of foods, see it’s great vistas, and sleep with it’s many women. his nocturnal activities chasing the fairer sex often draw him from his post, but he has gained a few valuable tidbits from pillowtalk with the wives of absentee lords and guildmasters.

22. Sweaty Kasch
Named so for his copious amounts of sweat and often offensive body odor, Kasch is a wolf among the sheep. He is a fanatic who’se home village, homeland, personal ideology or the like was offended by a certain personage of power. Kasch has since devoted his life to honing his skills and getting close enough to deliver revenge at the point of a special dagger. While most of the men are fine with this merc, higher-ups have noticed his secretiveness and isolation from the other men. Such things don’t bode well and unless he finds a way to ingratiate himself, Kasch will find his employ as a merc terminated early, forcibly or otherwise.

23. Zalamea the Gladiator
While never having been a gladiator, Zalamea’s preference for one on one combat has earned him his title. While nominally a mercenary, Zalamea harbors dreams of founding a cult of personality and raising a mercenary army under his own proletariat banner. Silent in his views, Zalamea hates the nobility for the excesses of their wealth, incestuous court politics, and detachment from the common people. While nowhere near his goal of an army, this mercenary has garnered a certain amount of allies and pledges from like minded mercenaries as well as a few underground groups with similar goals.

24. Nasty Nicolaides
Most often filty and reeking of strange odors, Nicolaides is a man of many secrets. His biggest secret is that he has become addicted to a potion of his own make. The cost of the components forced him to find a high income job that didnt ask too many questions and thus he became a merc. What is worse is that he is slowly propagating use of this addictive potion through the other ranks. While under the influence of the potion, the soldiers and Nicolaides are almost supernaturally alert and focused on their tasks. When the potion wears off the soldiers become listless, suffer bouts of nausea, vertigo and frequent nosebleeds. It is only a matter of time until he is found out, but to forstall that day, Nicolaides has stockpiled both loot and vials of his potion for when he has to run.

25. Lucky Heximer
While mages are rarely mercenaries, Heximer is both a mage for sale, but also has extensive contacts among the criminal underworld. While initially this supplied him with the reagents he needed for his sorceries, it was not long before he used his merc ties to funnel illict monies, drugs, and slaves away from the underworld. He is making himself invaluable to the made men of the guilds as well as lining his pockets with no small amount of gold. Should his actions come to light, the mercenaries he works with would be blacklisted and they would certainly make sure that Heximer never went to trial. Indeed, the mage knows that if he is found out it is likely that the authorities or the bosses would ever find his corpse.26. Paguirigan Guardson
Paguirigan’s father was a guardsman, as was his father and his father before him. It was demanded by the family that Paguirigan make every effort to join the city guards, and when that city guard rebelled against it’s lord tradition demanded the Paguirigan follow loyalty to the captain. Now he is a mercenary who never wanted to fight to begin with. He hates sitting watch, seldom takes care of his weapons and dreams of a day when he might be discharged from the unit before ending up as goblin fodder. The others know that he is a weak link and more than once other mercs have caught him trying to escape and have thoroughly beaten him for his attempts to desert.27. Blonde Piwowar
A female mercenary is rare, a ravishing beauty as a mercenary is even rarer. Piwowar took up the sword and spear at an early age and found herself good at fighting. While blocked from joining a guard unit or the royal army, she became a bragging, swaggering merc straight out of the bard’s tales. Convinced of her own greatness, she strides into battle without caution or consequence. Thusfar her luck has held and she’s never been wounded in battle. She has a strange birthmark on her shoulder that a mystic would recognize as a sign of favor from the God of Chance.

28. Delsordo the Grappler
Adept at wresting, Delsordo is an excellent in-fighter. He is often posted at doors as a final sentry or last line of defense for VIPs or important prisoners. There was once a time when he was an incorrigible gossip but this ended after it was discovered that he was the person who leaked the location of a hidden noble to an assassin by accident. Delsordo doesn’t gossip now that his tongue was cut out and receiving 39 lashes. When confronted by an assassin, his preferred move is to catch the assassin in a submission hold and slowly suffocate them while staring into their eyes as they die.

29. Pujal the Wanderer
Born to a poor family, Pujal didnt have the connections or wealthy to find a position in the city guard, and without a war on, there was no call for able-bodied men to stand in the levies. Filled with a wanderlust, he became a mercenary and wants to experience everything. To this end he has picked up a bit of thievery, a few cantrips, and a genuine Holy Symbol as well as his trusty two-handed sword. He wants to dine on dragon, marry an elfin princess, live in a tower and become a knight of the realm. He indulges these fantasies as a mercenary and is one of the most reliable, if overenthusiastic mercs that can be met.

30. Dochterman the Snake
This whip-thin man was named for his unblinking stare and sinuous movements when knife-fighting. The name is quite appropriate for another reason, as Dochterman is an informant for an outside agency. He secretly reports to a King’s Advisor, or to a member of a High Guild detailing the failings of the unit or individuals. Dochterman aims to become a second in command, a puppetmaster of a mercenary company and leter gain a Merc Guild seating. He protects himself by sniffing out other informants and ‘selling’ them to the captain of the merc unit.

1.) Phial Fenning, Unprepared Taverner“Ale? I’m afraid there’s not much call for it around here.”

A scrawny man with an oversized mustache, Phial Fenning is the operator of the Rich Harvest Tavern, an understaffed public house that serves a variety of expensive cheeses, imported wines, and other luxury foods. For some reason, the Rich Harvest Tavern is perpetually out of stock. Perhaps the adventurers are unlucky, but no matter when they show up, he doesn’t have what they wanted to buy. No one else has ever noticed this strange problem.

2.) Asyard Amara, Used Armor Merchant“Why this armor was only worn by a little old warrior on Sundays, when he was attending services at the Temple of Ares.”

Asyard is a greasy fellow, as hairless as a toad and nearly as wide as he is tall. The armor he sells has generally been salvaged from the battlefield, and usually shows signs of recent repair. Asyard is accommodating (and very insistent) up to the point of sale, but after it’s done, they’ll be lucky to get the time of day from him. Since faulty armor tends to lead to customers dying, this is generally a self-correcting issue.

3.) Trya Upshella, Proprietress of Travelers’ Sundries“Right, and with that sword, you’ll need the matching Dagger and scabbard, plus our adornment feature, plus the Reinforced Battle harness, and then of course you need the…”

This large, matronly woman runs a well-stocked shop specializing in adventuring equipment. Her personal mission is to have every buyer leave the shop barely able to move. She will sell ‘package deals’ which generally cost more then the items separately, but she will try to confuse customers with fictional fees and local regulations which conceal the full price. Her motto is “No pack unfilled, no purse unemptied.”

4.) Menook Askar, Apprentice Shopkeeper.“Sure, those bolts will work great with your shortbow.”

This gangly, pock-marked adolescent works for Trya in her Sundries shop, however, unlike her, he is utterly clueless about the items they stock. Customers may still prefer to deal with him, as he couldn’t care less about selling much product, and if the buyer is savvy enough to help themselves, they may be able to leave the store with their pack not quite full, and their purse a little more then empty.

5.) Stannell Troch, Keeper of the Pure Flame Inn “Yes, of course they’re welcome! We welcome all sorts here, even those thieving, greedy dwarves and lying, treacherous elves! I’ll have the stable boy clear out a stall.”

Stannell Troch is the master of the Pure Flame Inn, as his father was before him. A judgmental, provincial bigot, he hates his job, hates anyone who isn’t from the local village, and especially hates non-humans. Unfortunately, the truculent innkeeper’s cousin is the Captain of the Watch and several of the senior guardsmen served in the levy with him when he was younger, so they tend to side with him in any quarrels with strangers.

The Pure Flame Inn is located on a prominent trade route. It’s also the only inn for miles, so avoiding the place would cost most travelers an extra day of journeying. To avoid the inconvenience, most travelers just grit their teeth and try to ignore the inn’s poor service, high prices, and Stannell’s verbal abuse.

6.) Evnard Astara, Bladesmith“And look at this fine blade! Note the skilled (if I say so myself) tooling on the quillions! What? You see a notch on the blade? Hmm, one of my apprentices must have dropped it. I will have him flogged! Yes, that does bring the price down a bit..”

Attractive and trim, Evnard is a skilled bladesmith. Unfortunately, he is quite lazy and as a result, he accepts and resells stolen weapons. These are often refurbished to hide their origins and sold as new. He does not advertise this fact, but if player characters attempt to sell him ‘used’ items, he is not going to be terribly picky. If they win his trust (what there is of it), Evnard may even be their doorway to the darker side of the city.

7.)Vlense Chazer, Horse Breeder“A mere sell-sword could never appreciate the full virtue of these glorious animals! Look at his conformation; such symmetry! Such grace! This is no mere destrier; he is fire and air incarnate! Do you see the fine tone of his muscles, the perfect line of his neck? I thought not! It is obvious to me that you have little appreciation of true equine beauty.”

This pudgy, balding horseman has an encyclopedic knowledge about his thoroughbred offerings and lets no-one forget it. Unless the customer has a similar passion for horses, he can expect sarcastic treatment from the arrogant horse master. If they can match Vlense’s knowledge of horseflesh, he may be willing to offer a better price, but if they seem ignorant, the breeder may inflate his prices just to avoid selling one of his precious thoroughbred destriers to a buyer who wouldn’t properly appreciate it.

8.) Annatha Sirini, Verbose Bookseller “Why yes, I believe we do indeed have that title. This edition was penned in the Vlana Scriptorium by the Tuien order of monks. Did you know that they only scribe volumes using inks derived from the Hasuthanian Squid? An interesting beast, that squid, for its ink is highly noxious and serves to repel virtually any creature which lives below the waves. The process the Monks use to address the rather distasteful odor is quite involved and has at least fourteen steps, the first of which being…”

A small, mousey woman with lank hair, Annatha is very similar to Vlense Chazer in her comprehensive familiarity with her subject matter (She may even be more knowledgeable than he!). Unlike him, however, she simply loves to provide information to people. Those that tolerate her long-winded discourses can expect reasonable prices, but anyone who is rude or who cuts her off will find themselves paying through the nose.

9.) Ranale Tyrmunk, Leather Goods Merchant“You drive a hard bargain, Sir, but I cannot possibly let that wonderful belt go for any less then three gold sovereigns! Note the wondrous leather tooling! Surely you would not wish to insult the craftsman who made that with such a paltry sum. Please, take another look: I’m already making a sacrifice, letting it go!”

Ranalet lives for the deal. He will relentlessly haggle the best price possible, trying to sell as much as he can. He has numerous ploys that he unleashes on customers unwilling to pay his inflated prices, such as signaling a relative to feign interest in the same item as his customers are eyeing, or having his wife come in to scold him that his children have no decent shoes. He is skilled at bluffing and deception, and in another life, might make a top-notch lawyer.

10.) Ornaby Methwick, Desperate Fruit Monger“Are you sure you don’t want any Allanda fruit? Please, I’ll cut you a deal! I really need to make this sale, or the tax collector will close me down and throw me into debtor’s prison, and then my daughters will be sold into slavery….”

This scarecrow-like man operates a well-stocked fruit stand and is always tying to clench a deal as if his life depended upon it. He will whine and beg, saying he needs money to pay for protection, cover his taxes, settle his dead wife’s medical expenses, et cetera. Unlike Ranale Tyrmunk, he actually is in dire straits: His desperate attempts to make a sale may be interrupted by burly thugs harassing him about his debts. Unsympathetic characters who refuse to buy anything may see the unfortunate man pilloried in the town square on the following day.

11.) Jeth Mornicker, Inflexible Herbalist“Nope. I can’t help you there. Twenty pieces of silver and not a farthing less! It’s a price, not a suggestion.”

Tall, lanky Jeth Mornicker is a rather impatient merchant. He takes great pains to provide high quality herbs and finds dealing with the growers troublesome enough: He won’t tolerate any haggling from his customers. The best way to deal with Jeth is pay what he asks without argument. Customers will find that over time that they may get a little more for their money in larger amounts provided, small ‘freebies’ etc. This favour will evaporate for months should they subsequently attempt to haggle with him.

12.) Galder Morstruck, Carpet Vendor and Collector“Yes, I do have a rug in red, it’s over here underneath the bronze Parthienian Globe. No? How about this one - let me move the Ablavian platemail - there we go. Isn’t that the finest… No? Well, let’s look in the back room. I’ve got a couple more there, though I’ll have to move the Starien Wall Shield to allow you a proper look.”

This odd man is unusually tall and his features could be most generously described as skeletal. His rug shop is cluttered with odd items of all descriptions, most of which bear no relationship to rugs. Curios, furniture, arms, and many other items may be found here: Galder enthusiastically describes these items to visitors, ignoring the shop’s carpets. He really does not care very much about rugs; the business was inherited from his father. Galder is willing to purchase all manner of odd items, but can only offer a fraction of their market value.

13.) Regin Cotesworthy and Gilles Pavinel, Managers of the Red Gryphon Haberdashery“Good Sir Knight! My associate and I are so pleased to finally meet you! A distinguished gentleman of such stature: We have JUST the robes you should be wearing! Don’t you agree, Regin?”
“Indubitably, Gilles! I think the velvet robes would look SO distinguished on him!”

A potential customer can barely enter the door of their shop before these two obsequious merchants will be attentively waiting upon them. Armed with fawning flattery, these servile salesmen will wax eloquent about how stylish and elegant the customer looks when clad in their wares. With looks of distaste at the battered and unfashionable garb often worn by adventurers, they will politely offer to have the customer’s previous attire given to charity.

14.) Unvaldr Gallorran, Agent for Red Company Imports”If you want men to guard your caravan cheaply, you can find bruisers in the local tavern. If you want your goods to get through without trouble, you’ll need to hire my people.”

This burly old condottiere now runs an import and shipping company, entirely staffed by members of his old unit. These grizzled mercenaries have retired from their previous rootless lifestyle and now make their living transporting luxury goods between cities. Unvaldr has a reputation for being a ruthless bargainer, able to squeeze the last shilling from a contract.

The men of the Red Company depend heavily on their reputation as bloodthirsty mercenaries to deter local brigands from harassing them. In the few instances when arrogant or uninformed bandits have attacked their caravans, the Red Company has sponsored retaliatory expeditions to eliminate the threat. If rumor is true, some members of the Red Company aren’t above “tipping off” local bandits about competitors’ travel plans, hoping to steer trouble their way.

With a mercurial temper, this easily-angered alchemist tends to ‘cut people off’ from his wares for varying periods of time for real or imagined slights. This is unfortunate, for Arguman produces potions of utmost quality and charges reasonable prices. An artist among his demanding craft, he already has enough money that individual sales do not overly concern him.

16.) Oppan Lantmar, Blacksmith and Ironmonger“WHAAAT? SPEAK UUUUP!”

Assaulted eardrums and a face full of garlic breath are the side effects of dealing with the walking mountain called Oppan. With no concept of personal space, he talks a lot and loudly. Part of this may be explained by his near-deafness, caused by years of pounding iron, but those who know him say he’s always been that loud. Determined to be helpful, Oppan does not believe in allowing customers to wander his cluttered shop unassisted: All one can do is hope another customer will come in to distract him.

Perhaps this mouse of a man has been burgled one time too many, or simply fell on his head once too often. His store is filled with alarm bells, locks, and chains. Anyone entering his shop will be watched suspiciously by the grouchy cobbler and his burly apprentice. If they act suspicious in any way, they will be told to leave, and even thrown out by his apprentice, if necessary. It is a little odd, given that he is the only cobbler in town, and stolen shoes would need to be adjusted for proper fit.

18.) Adnair Shonepate, Dealer in Spellstuffs“If you think these crystals are pure, you should come upstairs with me, miss. I have set aside the finest crystals for my… special customers.”

A paunchy man with an unsettling way of staring at women who enter his shop, this prosperous merchant has a monopolistic license from the Wizard’s Guild as the only local supplier for several exotic materials needed for common enchantments. While he has a fine selection of magical paraphernalia, he uses his position to press his unwanted advances upon any women that have to deal with him. If he were not well connected within the Guild, his noxious lechery would have put him out of business long ago.

19.) Fetzenatz the Foreign, Saddler and Leatherworker“Why Thank You very muchly kind sir for your order to give… Have be very happy assist for you!”

This well-meaning fellow is always hard at work in his shop, crafting some of the most beautiful and well-designed leather goods in the area. Unfortunately, his grasp of local languages is marginal at best, so attempting to purchase anything can be quite frustrating, as he repeatedly misunderstands what is needed and how much the customer is willing to pay for it. Occasionally, he has his five-year old daughter, Amia, translate for him, but he prefers not to, as he is trying “for to learn speaks Common Tongue good now!” Customers who become frustrated and raise their voices may find themselves dealing with his sharp-tongued wife, Gosla. While Gosla is no more proficient in the Common Tongue than her husband, she is quite able to communicate her opinions of anyone who is rude to her husband.

20.) “Uncle” Gralbold, Dealer in Rare Antiquities“Look at the fine details! This piece was once possessed by the Wizard Ramogoth, who used it to speak with the spirits of the dead…”

This tall and stooping man has a remarkable collection of exotic goods and antiques, many of which have strange auras or ominous histories. Secretly serving a dark power of evil, “Uncle” Gralbold’s dusty trove of exotic treasures includes a number of items that he has acquired from rather sinister sources. He is very understanding and flexible if someone can’t afford these rare goods, often suggesting “alternative” means of payment, such as completion of a few simple tasks or errands. Those who deal with Uncle Gralbold may not realize the harm caused by their actions until much later.

A large, boisterous woman, Marian Markan is a seller of alchemical preparations, potions and the like. She has both regular priced items and a large assortment of cheaper items of rather dubious quality. She tends to have the best selection of both premium and ‘B-Grade’ items, but has the unfortunate habit of occasionally mixing up her stock…

The Head Ostler of Raed’s Livery Yard, Veld is a retired cavalryman more interested in swapping war stories than in helping his clients. Those willing to indulge his rambling anecdotes will enjoy better prices than those who insist on doing business right away. Visitors who aren’t in a hurry may discover that the man’s longwinded tales can be very informative: In his many travels, Veld’s unit seems to have fought with nearly every hostile group on the continent.

Veld truly knows horses and is glad to help visitors find mounts of superior quality, as long as they seem to appreciate horses. He can spot a horse’s weaknesses in seconds, and insists that any horses in his care are properly treated.

23.) Treb Nurlmach, Ship Chandler“Listen you - either buy something or by the Abyss, get out!”

Treb looks more like a heavily tattooed street tough then a merchant. His personality would be best described as surly. The store is actually a front for a criminal ring and has is operated by the local thieves’ guild. Treb was found to be an unreliable (clumsy) thief and so was ‘volunteered’ to act as the storekeeper. He does need to provide a quota of sales back to the guild, but he resents being forced to act as a storekeeper, so he puts minimal effort into the job. He is insulting, sarcastic, and could not be bothered to haggle.

24.) Calilia the Fair, Mistress of Calilia’s Tailored Attire“That’s marvelous! Where was that bandit? Why, I remember when my personal friend, Baroness Trebuch, had an affair with a dashing highwayman! He gave her the most remarkable magical presents!

This ravishing young woman is perhaps the most skilled couturier in the realm. One of the few clothiers able to craft attire suitable to be enchanted, she considers herself a personal friend of many of the land’s most influential nobles. Unfortunately, she is a terrible gossip, and readily shares intimate information as she adjusts hems and marks needed alterations. Despite her indiscreet nature, she has a gift for putting people at ease. Many of her clients find themselves relating confidences that they’ve never shared before.

25.) Brother Belden “The Bull”, Keeper of the Shrine of St. Lucia“Milord, surely you would not consider traveling without bringing some of the holy relics of the blessed saints with you? Why, I knew a man that was captured by the wild pagans of Trolwald, but thanks to the holy thimble he carried, they did him no harm! A man carrying sacred relics is sure to be protected…”

An impressively-muscled man clad in monastic robes, Belden is possibly the most well-informed and determined salesman of holy relics that the church hierarchy has ever seen. He will endless extol the holy virtues of his shrine’s impressive collection of sacred bric-a-brac, doing his best to ensure that visitors are aware of every miracle and blessing ever conferred upon a traveler by such marvelous items as the Teeth of St. Dissam or the Sandals of the Celestial Alariel. Reverent silence is not an option in this aggressive man’s shrine.

26. “Silent” Catho, Farrier of Few Words ” “

To call this non-descript man ‘quiet’ would not do him justice. New patrons may think he is mute: All of his services are clearly priced with pictorial panels on the wall. When asked, he will point to the appropriate panel. He will not speak unless it is absolutely necessary, and perhaps not even then. Many villagers speculate about his silence. Some think he swore an oath, or lost his voice to fairies. What the truth is, none but Catho could tell, and he won’t.

Sahrii is an exotic woman with long black hair and dusky skin. She is also exceptionally superstitious; oddly so, since she is a dealer in magical wares of all descriptions. One quickly gets the impression that she is terrified of her own wares and she takes inordinate efforts to ward off ‘bad luck’. What meager magical abilities she may possess are ineffective at averting curses, but she places more faith in her superstitious nostrums and charms than in true spells, in any case.

28.) Festiva Throck, Sinister Procuress”I’m afraid that the lady you requested is not available this evening. There is another lovely young lady available; I’m sure that you would be more than satisfied with her.”

This charming and attractive older woman acts as madam for the House of the Marquis, a small and run-down brothel. While the place seems unsavory enough, it is actually a front for an even more unsettling group: A grim cult led by the charming Festiva. Those brought into this depraved cult can be expected to be brainwashed into committing degrading acts that make their brothel seem tame by comparison. Festiva is one of the driving forces behind this depravity and doesn’t hesitate to abduct more “recruits” if an opportunity presents itself.

29.)Yust Marden and Xak Murch, Printers“I’ll have to check with my supervisor on that, sir. He’ll be back on Tuesday. Next Tuesday.”

The True Word Printers hold the monopolistic right to print anything in the city, and have the most advanced printing equipment available. While the shop is nominally under the supervision of Yust Marden, very few people have actually seen what Yust looks like. He is supposed to be running the place, but instead leaves his assistant, Xak, to mind the operation. Unfortunately, Xak, a portly, red-faced man, is apparently quite useless. He can only manage the simplest of tasks: If anything significant is needed, he will claim that he needs to consult with his boss. However, his boss is ‘away on business’ and it will be a few days or weeks before he can consult with him.

In truth, Yust is a narcoleptic drunk with important relatives, and can generally be found in one of the back rooms, either drinking, passed out, or having a nap. Xak is more competent then he lets on, so if sufficient bribes or physical threats are made, needed projects can actually be completed.

30.) Mistress Aelfwynn Sternlace, Dealer in Maps and Scrolls“Of course we have the maps you require, sir. In fact, we have a recently updated map of the area, one that includes all the information of the older map and is quite a bit less costly.”

Mistress Aelfwynn is a matronly scribe and cartographer, a gracious lady who acts as an agent and broker for several of the scribes and scholars in her community. Characters dealing with her will discover that she has a talent for planning ahead: Aelfwynn will often have maps and information that her customers will find helpful, and if she doesn’t have what’s needed, she knows how to get it. Well informed and courteous, Aelfwynn stocks a well-chosen selection of maps and other informative documents, selling them to travelers, merchants, and members of the gentry. In the cramped workroom that doubles as her shop, she also encourages her visitors to munch on delicious cookies she bakes herself, so even those unable to find the perfect map or informative scroll get a pleasant snack.

Freemen

Men and women who fight willingly, for fame or a little extra cash.

1. The Death Wish

“Kill me. There is no other choice.”

This man desperately wants to die, but his religion forbids him from taking his own life. Unfortunately, this includes simply allowing himself to be killed. And even more unfortunately (for him), he's a really, really good fighter. He participates in gladiatorial combat whenever there is an open spot, hoping that one of the new recruits will finally prove his match. The Death Wish doesn't like to cause unnecessary pain or suffering, but will relentlessly press any opponent who seems to be holding back.

2. The Trouble-Seeker

Participating in a death match is all sorts of illegal, but this young nobleman has the money to bribe his way into the ring. Perhaps he wants to start a scandal, or perhaps he was too sheltered as a child. Either way, he will soon find out that a gladiatorial match is no game, and might need to be rescued/sheltered by the party.

3. The Pastor

“Repent or perish!”

A radical member of the Faith, this man participates in a weekly sermon/death-match to help spread his faith. He will preach scripture – often in a pithy, light-hearted manner – while dealing crushing blows with the “Fist of God” (a large, spiked mace). Many of his opponents are reluctant to hurt a religious man, for fear of angering his god. If a fallen opponent repents, he will convert the unfortunate sinner and spare his life, with the understanding that he will come back to finish the job, if necessary.

4. The Showoff

“I just have a gift.”

Some men are born fighters, and The Showoff is one of these. He's independently wealthy and doesn't need the money – he fights purely for the challenge and the roaring approval of the crowd. Whenever business is slow (pirate ship, mercenary company, etc) and the wenches are cold, he will assuage his boredom with a brutal death match (and perhaps some “fan service” afterwards). Watch out for his signature move – the Ten Slices of Fury. It's a real crowd-pleaser.

5. The Mascot

A symbol of national pride, the Mascot is usually scheduled for the opening match. He enters the ring to the clash of trumpets, clad in a full-face mask and traditional costume. The Mascot will often be matched against opponents clad in the garb of conquered or soon-to-be invaded nations. He is not allowed to speak, and his true identity is a strict state secret, but he is definitely one of the best fighters in the nation.

6. The Vigilante

“Justice has come. You will pay for your crimes!”

What started out as a personal quest to avenge his sister's murder turned into a life-long mission for this ex-soldier. If a particularly repugnant criminal fails to receive the death penalty and is instead assigned to the gladiators' ring, The Vigilante will make sure that he never has the chance to earn his freedom. He wears a full-face helmet to protect his identity, engraved with the symbol of the God of Justice.

7. The Professional

“It's nothing personal.”

An ex-gladiator who earned his freedom in the ring, The Professional found life outside it's walls ill-suited to a man of his talents and temperament. With no other job skills and little support from his estranged family, The Professional returned to the ring to fight for coin. He's not a particularly flashy combatant, and fights more defensively than the crowd likes, but he's useful filler during a slow week.

8. The Shapeshifter

A bestial man who thrills for the hunt, The Shapeshifter has found that men make the most challenging prey. The Gladiators' Ring is about the only socially acceptable way for him to indulge his appetites. He's often employed as a third-match “surprise” to delight the crowd, or as a way to shake up a stand-off. His favorite trick is to enter with the other animals, catching his opponents off-guard with his human-level intelligence or an unexpected shift to a new form.

9. The Heir

Daughter of a famous gladiator, this fighter entered the ring as soon as she was legally able to do so, hoping to earn a little extra money to support her aging mother and crippled father. She relies heavily on her father's reputation, and has had much of his custom armor reforged to fit her smaller frame. She never speaks, preferring to let her spear do the talking for her. Depending on the setting, the Heir may be disguising the fact that she is a girl, partly to secure placement in the more risky (and better-paying) matches.

10. The Second Son

Overlooked and underestimated by the royal family, this prince sees the Gladiators' Ring as an alternate path to power. Realizing that gladiators are often more popular than politicians, he is slowly building up a name for himself through mortal combat. The Second Son knows that there are few in the ring who can hurt him (he has very expensive armor and has received the best tutelage available), and can always bribe his way into an easier match if needed. Several of his opponents suffered pre-match “accidents” or were drugged/poisoned to make them less capable than normal.

11. The Doppelganger

“Who's it gonna be, eh?”

The Doppleganger is a rare creature, and this one knows how to exploit that rarity to its own advantage. A consummate actor, he regularly hires his services to the local Ringmaster to fill whatever role is required of him. For a fee, you can pay to see your own worst enemy slaughtered for your entertainment – the doppleganger can survive a surprising amount of damage, simply by moving its internal organs around. The Emperor often uses this service as a warning to his political opponents.

Captives

Slaves of the ring, these people belong to the Ringmaster and must earn their way back to freedom by fighting in paid matches. The higher-risk the match, the better their paltry commission.

12. The Faithful

“Jessminia!”

This heartsick young man was captured by his noble lover's political enemies, during a drunken night on the town. The lady has long since moved on, but he has no way of knowing that. He has carefully etched her name into his sword, and dreams only of returning to her arms. His battle cry is her name (which makes many female audience members sigh). Over the months, he has made more attempts at escape than any other gladiator left alive, and often bears fresh welt marks across his back and face for his trouble.

13. The Fool

“Eeep!”

He's not a fighter, and he knows it. The only reason he is still alive is because he can make the crowd laugh with his cowardly antics. Will often “stumble” into the arena, nearly impaling himself on his own weapon. The crowd loves to shout conflicting advice at him, and he will attempt to follow ALL of it. Has been beaten in every match up, but the victors have so-far been forbidden from delivering the death stroke, due to The Fool's high entertainment value.

14. The King

This man was once great, and you can still see it in the set of his shoulders, the lines on his face. A deposed leader from a conquered land, The King is a real draw for the weekend crowd. He wears an iron crown that has been permanently screwed into his skull, and is often forced to fight with poor or inferior weapons. Still, he refuses to give into despair, hoping that his victories in the ring will bring hope to his former subjects.

15. The “Queen”

An accidental eunuch with a taste for cross-dressing, The “Queen” is one of the more colorful characters you'll see in the show. He was thrown into the Ring after repeated violations of the public decency laws. His success there is due to his ability to combine feminine looks with an unexpected burst of masculine strength, that catches his opponents off guard. Visiting gladiators have no idea that the “shrieking, mewling woman” can crush a trachea with “her” bare hands.

16. The Half-Wit

“Not want fight -- not want fight!”

Big, dumb and gentle, The Half-Wit is a sad sight to behold. He hates the ring, and must be dragged or prodded into it for each match, after which he will huddle in place weeping with terror. That's where the rocks come in handy. A favorite game of the audience is to pelt the Half-Wit with stones until he snaps; the resulting rampages are impressive and often deadly for the other combatants.

17. The Adulteress

A hardened, wiry-framed woman, you can still see a hint of the beauty she once was. Her former husband caught her in the arms of another man, and sold her to the Ring after killing her lover. Despite the odds, The Adulteress has survived a number of matches. She relies heavily on the terrain, using her wits to lure other warriors into traps or weak positions before striking. It is surprising how viciously she can kill.

18. The Tribute

As is customary for many evil regimes, The Empire requires a yearly sacrifice from each of its conquered territories, in the form of a youth or maiden. These are either used for religious sacrifices, Minotaur fodder or gladiatorial combat, depending on the whims of the current Emperor. The Tribute is one such youth – fair of face and strong in body – that was lucky enough to receive combat training in his home province before being selected. The gods seem to favor him, for he has defeated several warriors far stronger and more experienced than he.

19. The Insane

“For I am come to deliver you into the Greatest of Wars! Rejoice!”

This man seems to genuinely believe that he is the God of Combat, come to the Ring to reward and punish his believers. Unsurprisingly, he has developed quite a rivalry with The Pastor, who denounces his ravings as “blasphemous”. To The Insane, the Ring is an altar of sacrifice and the audience is full of adoring devotees; he will rant and rave semi-religious expressions at them while declaring his own everlasting glory. Unfortunately for his opponents, his insanity allows him to shrug off wounds that would be normally incapacitating, and he has absolutely no fear.

20. The Foreigner

There's one in every ring – an exotic warrior with strange eyes and coloring, wielding a weapon both deadly and strange. The Foreigner doesn't speak the local language and is beginning to despair of ever finding his way home again. He views everyone with distrust, but he's smart and keeps his eyes open. Anyone who speaks his language may find a willing accomplice or source of information, especially if they can promise his freedom in return.

21. The Sorcerer

This man had no right to survive more than a week in the Ring. He has no combat training to speak of, and the Ringmaster expected him to go down in his very first match. Instead, a strange series of unfortunate events keep befalling the warriors who are matched against him, and he is acquiring a reputation for “devil's luck”. In reality, The Sorcerer has a latent magical talent that expresses itself during times of extreme stress. He is completely unaware of what he is doing.

22. The Doomed

“Oh Sirius, Lord of Mercy, preserve me!”

Unlike The Sorcerer, this man has no tricks up his sleeve; he was just an average wage-earner, sold into slavery after his nation was invaded. Mid-thirties, strong but bent after years of hard labor, he has no chance of winning his first match. The worst part is, he knows it. He will be exceptionally eager to participate in any plan that offers him hope for escape.

23. The Scarred

No one knows this guy's story; his tongue was removed by the man who sold him to the Ring, years ago. The Scarred has been horribly and intentionally disfigured, his face burnt and cut in so many places that there is no telling what he used to look like. Someone obviously had a strong grudge against him, though – the scars cover every surface of his body, and he is missing an ear and several fingers as well. He is such an amazing fighter, however, that there is a lot of speculation about his former identity.

24. The Priest of Mathom

“Whenever's good. I'll be here!”

He's never seen a match. Well, that's not exactly true – he was scheduled for one match, after he'd been in the Ring for several months, but it was canceled after an enormous delay. His opponent's armor (The Pastor, that time) was found to be infected with a strain of metal-eating fleas, and the tigers were all suffering from some sort of stomach illness. Then the lock on his cell was discovered rusted shut, and the key had gone missing to boot. Meanwhile, the audience had grown restless and the Ringmaster decided to just reschedule the Mathomite for a later date.

25. The Monkey

More Aladdin than Conan, this man is a quick, agile fighter who prefers to go into the Ring as lightly armored as possible. His insane climbing/jumping skills allow him to tumble around the arena, evading his more cumbersome opponents with ease. The Monkey is more adept with a sling than a blade, and one of his favorite tricks is to pelt the other warriors from a high vantage point, exploiting tiny weaknesses in their armor. He has killed more than one foe by slipping a stone right through the eye-slit in their helmet. When caught, he will try to play “dead” until his foe makes an exploitable mistake.

26. The Illusionist

Another one of the profession's rare female combatants, this woman was captured and tried as a witch before being sold to the Ring for pure entertainment value. She only knows a handful of minor illusions, and has had to rely on temporary alliances formed with other prisoners to stay alive. Her magic can make herself or an ally harder to see, or divert an opponent's attention at a critical moment. The Illusionist intentionally plays up her reputation as a witch, hoping to terrify some of the others into making fatal mistakes.

27. The Wrongfully Accused

An ex-soldier who was tried for murdering a commanding officer, this man has spent the past several years in the ring, trying to earn enough to win back his freedom. He won't talk about his crime, because he is covering for the man who actually killed the officer – a younger friend or brother who should have kept his temper. He is one of the few captives who will volunteer for extra matches, knowing that every fight he wins brings him closer to freedom and family.

28. The Elderly

One of the few veterans of the Ring, this man has survived more matches than any man alive, but plays so conservatively that he rarely gets the big tips or commissions he needs to earn his freedom. The Elderly seems to know everything – his foes' win/loss records and their favorite tricks, how to get the best bits of grub from the scraps thrown to them, etc. He can even make small repairs to armor and keeps his own gear in far better condition than most.

29. The Orc

A member of a race known for its battle prowess, The Orc is expected to live up to that fearsome reputation in the arena. The Ringmaster likes to talk up his many bloody victories in far-off locals, and dresses him in savage garb. Truth is, he wouldn't have been captured at all if he were a good fighter. This particular Orc was just support staff for the last orcish invasion – a simple cook or day laborer. He speaks a few words of broken Common, and is smart enough to play the role assigned him, knowing that a scared foe is easier for him to defeat.

30. The Centaur

The Centaur was actually considered part of the “animal stock”, until he made a nearly-successful escape attempt from their enclosure. Even now, the Ringmaster doesn't know exactly how to treat him. Sometimes, he is given a weapon and pitted against a human opponent. At others, he is chained to arena like one of the tigers, or made to enter through one of the animal enclosures. Unlike the human combatants, The Centaur earns no pay and has no hope of winning his freedom – a fact of which he is bitterly aware.

1. Princess of Rocsby MoonHunter
She is everything a princess should be, kind, intelligent, gracious, and more. Often called, the Giant Princess, this 6’4” princess towers over all the men at court except her father who is the same height. She is perfectly proportioned, not a mishapen giant. Though her size can be intimidating, her charm soon neutralizes any mishaprehension most people have.

2. Princess of Phoenixesby MoonHunter
The princess has had a rough life. She has been kidnapped, lost in a storm, and been the victim of two small coup attempts. She has been considered “lost to us” a number of times, yet she has come back. She is actually a tough survivor rather than the proper pampered princess she pretends to be.

3. Princess of Starbirdsby MoonHunter
This white blonde princess is the epitome of grace and style. Under this exterior beats a young woman who can deal with any adversity. She is the ambassador for her kingdom, as Father who can no longer travel well. Well mannered, well travelled, and quite witty, she is quite the prize. However, her heart belongs to her kingdom.. she will always serve it.

4. Princess of Omen Birdsby MoonHunter
This princess was quite rebellous early on, but she appears to have turned about… becoming a picture of perfect princessdom. It is all an act though. She has inherited the mantle of The Omen Bird from her brother. There are some acts that the Crown must have performed and must totally trust. The Omenbird has always been a third son of the Crown, close enough to trusted family, but far enough away as not to be the direct heir. Now she is a highly trained, highly skilled spy and assassin for The Crown.

5. Princess of Shrikesby Scrasamax
This cool and aloof princess at first seems harmless because of her diminutive size and her sweet singing voice. This is a ruse that covers a pointedly cold and analytical woman. In the past she was done a wrong, and she is suspicious of everyone, fixing them with a needle like gaze that often causes some people to freeze in place as if stuck on a spike.

6. Princess of Thunderbirdsby Scrasamax
Defiant and proud, this princess is at ease in even the most violent of thunderstorms. She is as likely to be found outside in a downpour courting lightning strikes as inside by a fire. If threatened, this vibrant princess is able to defend herself with any bludgeoning weapon she can lay her hands on.

7. Princess of Flamingosby Scrasamax
Also known as the Pink Princess, this lady is the very epitome of everything that is feminine. Her clothes are all fine silk, lace, and ruffles. She carries a parasol to protect her pale skin. She requires a large number of attendees to make sure she is well comforted. If startled, she is awkward and easily embarassed.

8. Princess of Kiwisby Scrasamax
This princess is more often mistaken for a nun or a kitchen scullery maid. Her form is round and boyish, her face very plain and her hair the dullest shade of brown. Her eyes are bright green and lively, but she lives under the constant weight of not meeting the visual expectations of being a princess

9. Princess of Ostrichesby Scrasamax
Long legged and gangly, this princess is a traveler. She moves from place to place as often as she is allowed, trailing attendees and retainers from court to court, from town to town. When confronted with a major problem, she reacts by pointedly ignoring the problem.

10. Princess of Dodosby Dozus
The Princess of Dodos is the last member of a royal family, since adopted by another bloodline. Unfortunately she is very much a relic and many expect her to become a spinster to eventually be forgotten as the last sad remnant of a once great family.

11. Princess of Cuckoosby Wulfhere
This vain princess is infamous for stealing the credit for others’ achievements. She boldly lies, claiming that she secretly wrote the moving plays produced by the court’s greatest playwright, that she composed a popular piece of music, that she quietly brokered a peace agreement between warring clans. Her syncophants support her claims, even though they know better, and some of the common folk are starting to believe them. Worse yet, the gossip around the palace suggests that she has a secret lover and openly betrays her fiancée.

12. Princess of Turkeysby Wulfhere
This princess could be most kindly described as “rubinesque”. She is best known for her vacuous conversation and lack of attention to anything but her frequent meals. Many of the palace servants mock her behind her back, as she is only truly on good terms with the kitchen staff, who approve of her epicurian tastes. As a child, she was rather wild and spoiled; some of the courtiers miss the spirited girl she once was and wonder why she changed so much.

13. Princess of Lovebirdsby Wulfhere
This princess is determined to arrange love matches for all around her. Her schemes cause endless chaos for the servants and courtiers, as she attempts to manipulate them into one “romantic” situation after another.

14. Princess of Quailby Wulfhere
This princess is dominated by excessive fears of all sorts. She lives her life very carefully, avoiding anything strange and unfamiliar. Anything out of the ordinary, from unusual cuisine (“What if it makes me ill?”) to introductions with new people (“Why was he looking at me that way?”) makes her very uncomfortable. She should have been married some time before, but the prospect of leaving her family behind scares her too much.

15. Princess of Owlsby Wulfhere
The despair of her aristocratic family, this bookish princess would rather stay up all night reading than attend the court. Although she may sometimes frustrate her family, her studious ways have their rewards: All around her are impressed by the breadth of her learning and her mature judgment.

16. Princess of Nightingalesby Wulfhere
This beautiful young woman is one of the most eagerly courted noblewomen in the land. Patron to some of the kingdom’s finest musicians, her love of music is well known. She has learned well from the bards of the court, for her voice is said to be so pure that it could enchant any who hear her sing.

17. Princess of Pigeonsby Cheka Man
This Princess is more at home in the capital city then the countryside, and is much more streetwise then one might expect of a Princess, not too proud to go incognito into places where one would not expect to find Royalty.

18. Princess of Peregrinsby MoonHunter
She is a properly picturesk and petite princess posessing poise. She does all the normal pirncess things, and is quite adept at the cut throat world of court. She can do womanly things and a few manly things at court (such as duel, riding, and hunts). (She is quite the duelist, if it ever came to that). She is a princess everyone adores. She does have her quirks. This petite princess has a thing for speed. She likes fast horses, fast sleighs, flying (balloons, magic items, or jets depending on the world), and fast travel of all type (cars, trains, and ships).

19. Princess of Sagittarius by MoonHunter
This is an exotic princess from The Summer Lands (a grassland country far away). She could be an embassy or a hostage or simply a visitor from this far away land. She has is a tall exotic beauty emphasized by her foreign clothes. While she can be courtly (and is suprising well read and scholarly), she is quite the warrior. She has long legs allowing her to run faster than any man in this court (actually they are not abnormally long, but it is the common explanation for why she can run so fast). She is a master archer and top ranked with a blade. Her land has greater equality between the sexes so she occasionally chaffes at the social and polite restrictions on ladies here.

20. Princess of Hensby Strolen
Known for her long seclusive broodings, the Princess of Hens locks herself in her room for days at a time seeing no visitors and lashing out at those that would try and disturb her. This practice has started wild claims that she is practicing some ancient occultism. Others simply say it is because she is simply a teenager.

21. Princess of Condorsby Strolen
After countless failed attempts at marriage, mostly due to her mishapped feet, 6’5” frame, and her instant flush when around any available males, all hope has been lost to find her a husband. She is most at home riding on her large stallion Theroy and is one of the best horse riders in the kingdom. Many express much awe in seeing her so expertly control Theroy through any maneuver.

22. Princess of Ducksby Strolen
Not known to enjoy the cold, she loves to winter in the moderate southern country on her father’s estate. When not down south she spends much time upon the beach of the expansive fresh water inland sea. She also spends much time on her father’s cutter visiting the nearby coastal villages. This wayward pull to be out on the water and traveling makes her a favorite target of any number of nefarious plots which have yet to cause any permanent damage.

23. Princess of Hummingbirdsby Strolen
With an infamous taste for sweets, the princess is the heart of any ball or social event. She flutters deftly from table to table entertaining and socializing to the delight of her guests. She is always eating, the sweeter the better, and courtiers enjoy the challenge of gaining her favor through creative offerings of sweet desserts.

24. Princess of Puffinsby Murometz
One of the more mysterious princesses, a woman of some contradiction, and the moods of a tempest. She always dwells in cold climes, always by the sea, perched in forlorn castles of stone. In winter, when the weather is truly foul, she can be found “burrowing” about the castle, studying the lore of the sea and keeping to herself, as drab and sad as the winter, her voice a deep growl. When spring arrives however, she will don the most colorful and frivolous attire, parading about the keep, entertaining her servants, raising spirits, and singing odes to the first sailors and fishermen, of the season. She inhabits her own world of reality…a clown, a philosopher, disinterested in politics, somewhat disdainful of her own nobility, and always most alive when near the sea. She can swim like a fish, and it is rumoured (falsely) that she is a mermaid.

25. Princess of Lyrebirdsby Moonhunter
The Princess is a lovely girl, with stand out coloration (blonde and blue eyed, where most most people are black haired and green eyed, redhead when most people are brunette, and so on). She has a beautiful singing voice. She will sing for crown and court despite her standing because she is better than most bards. She also has a wicked sense of humor and can make her own sound effects and voices to punctuate her stories. The Princess has taken the Lyrebird as her symbol. Between her own charms and the little people’s love of her and the lyrebird myth, she has exceptional popularity.

The Lyrebird is the symbol of state for a small out of the way region. It is a ground dwelling bird known for astonishing displays and incredible vocal mimicing abilities. There are myths about how a flock of Lyrebirds duplicated the sounds of an army at night, thus invaders were scared away by hearing the sounds of an approaching force.

26. Princess of Kestrelsby Scrasamax
The Princess of Kestrels is a bright-eyed young lady who has a penchant for hovering just over people’s shoulders. While not literally drifting through the air, she tends to observe for a while before speaking or acting. She is also notorious for traveling from court to court, often spending long periods of time in courts that she likes. The people of her home court barely know or even recognize their distant princess.

27. Princess of Harriersby Scrasamax
Known for her dark her and dark eyes, this princess is an oddity as she has grown fond of hunting in the swamps and marshes near her home. While others would be content to sit in parlors and learn petite skills, she rides her horse through muck and reeds to hunt with her composite bow. She is a very good shot with this bow and is a skilled huntress.

28. Princess of Grebesby Scrasamax
This princess is famous, or infamous, for her outlandish attire and hair stylings. Often her dresses are selected to violently clash with the common dress at an occasion, and sometimes to clash even within her own outfit. She has a habit of forming her long blonde locks into ornate sculptures such as spikes, long blade like rows or the like. When not shocking the court, she is often found swimming at her liesure.

29. Princess of Bustardsby Scrasamax
This princess is a very large woman, yet she is not overly tall, nor fat. By some oddity of nature, her feminine frame is endowed with an exceptional amount of muscle mass, giving her great physical strength and endurance. While prone to dress in unremarkable dress, few people miss a chance to point out what they call the ‘barbarian princess’ and make snide jokes about mead halls, battleaxes, and fur underpants.

30. Princess of Nightjarsby Scrasamax
This Princess is seldom seen, but frequently heard. She is nocturnal by nature and is prone to wander her castle home at all hours of the night. sometimes she is known to sit and sing to the moon from various windows, only to vanish if she hears someone coming.

Few can play this man’s instrument of choice as well as he, but fewer still can match his arrogance and disdain for those of lesser talent. He is always finely dressed and equipped with a masterful instrument.

2. The Prodigy

This child is more skilled with his instrument of choice than many who have practiced it for years. Because he cares about little other than playing, his family manages just who he plays for.

3. The Cheater

Although he plays masterfully, this man possesses neither the innate talent of the Prodigy, nor the remarkable experience of the Master. Rather, he has made a pact with some dark power in exchange for his skill. He now owes that power his loyalty - and his soul.

4. The Untouchable

A nobleman or even a member of the royal family, this man has no talent, yet insists upon playing at every opportunity. Unfortunately for those with ears, his rank makes it impossible to refuse him. Those who try find him easily insulted, and quick to express his anger.

5. The Killer

An assassin of nobles, this man’s flute is a blowpipe; his drum, a bomb. His seeming preoccupation at the time of the murder prevents his becoming a suspect. At least his victims are treated to some lovely music before they die.

6. The Annoyed

From a distant land, this man finds himself insulted and overcharged wherever he goes. He takes his revenge in the one way he knows how - by playing a song which, according to his superstition, calls down the wrath of his god. Most people have no comprehension as to why he plays, thinking that he merely does not understand he’s just been scammed.

7. The Competitor

An above-average player, the one thing this man loves above all else is a challenge. He’ll compete in any musical competition and attempt even the most impossible piece of music. He strives not for the glory of victory, but for the thrill of the challenge.

8. The Piper

Although reasonably skilled, this man is inherently unlikeable, and gets along poorly with any employer. He doesn’t mind, so long as he’s paid, but those who deny him his money will become the targets of his revenge.

9. The Proselytizer

A priest of the God of Music, the proselytizer plays his instrument of choice quite well. He often plays before children, or other easily impressed individuals, and if they ask him to teach them his skills, as so many do, he takes the opportunity to guide them towards his faith.

10. The Spy

This musician, who happens to be a personal favorite of His Lordship, is actually the employee of another noble. Even as he entertains, he gathers information that his true master is certain to find very interesting.

11. The Siren

This beautiful flutist is not particularly remarkable for her talent, but for her charm. After every performance, she finds herself several new suitors. Indeed, it is said that she is not often hired for her musical gifts, but rather for her ability to improve the decor of any location.

12. The Brawler

A hot-tempered tuba player, this musician is one whom no tavern owner wants to have playing at his establishment - unless he seeks to collect insurance money, that is. This man’s tuba is more often seen swinging through the air into some poor chap’s face than it is at the Brawler’s lips.

13. The Drummer Boy

This man has only just returned from the war, probably with several incapacitating injuries. Now, his only method of income is to use the instrumental skills he learned during the war. He isn’t very good with his instrument, but several men have asked him to play for them nonetheless.

14. The Last-minute

This musician was hired to compete with a rival of his employer, but only at the last minute. Unfortunately, he isn’t very good, but his employer was willing to take what he could get. After all, he certainly didn’t want his ball to have fewer musicians than Lady Astran’s.

15. The Wizard

A remarkably expensive individual to hire, this mage uses magic to create beautiful, otherworldly sounds, which no normal musician can match. As such, he is always in demand. Unfortunately for him, the local Entertainer’s Guild isn’t quite so happy with his recent successes.

16. The Braggart

This man has always bragged of his astounding ability to play an instrument, but, unfortunately, there is never an instrument around when someone wants to hear him. Of course, the Braggart is incapable of actually playing. Unfortunately, however, a noble who heard him bragging has hired him to entertain at a ball. Unable to back out of his lie now, the Braggart is desperately searching for a way out of his situation.

17. The Humble Talent

This man is truly an unremarkable musician, neither stellar nor terrible. To his credit, however, he is constantly searching for ways to improve, and may eventually become a Master of his instrument. Of course, it is also possible that he will become a Cheater.

18. The Military Man

Actually a member of the standing army, this man plays at social events to highlight the discipline of skill of the military. He may not be as top-notch as many others, but he is cheap and follows orders.

19. The Patriot

This man, for some reason or another, feels an intense devotion to his current place of residence. He plays only patriotc songs which glorify his homeland, and is completely oblivious to the nationality of his listeners. More than one noble has been embarassed when this musician insulted a guest’s homeland in song.

20. The Socializer

This fellow plays at parties or taverns more for the opportunity of attending than for his salary. He loves to speak with guests, and puts on his greatest performances when a conversation leaves him feeling inspired.

21. The Screecher

Nobody willingly hires this man after hearing him once. He gives new meaning to the phrase ‘Instruments of Torture.’ Even the most dignified of guests are likely to lose their composure and egg him off the stage, much to the embarassment of their host.

22. The Novice

Although this young man is still learning, he is sufficiently competent to be worth hiring, particularly to strapped-for-cash nobles. Unfortunately, he has little experience playing before an audience, and his nerves will likely get the best of him.

23. The Pleaser

This man has only a modest talent, but bears one true gift - he possesses a vast repertoire of songs, and is an expert at reading the crowd. His lack of tremendous skill leaves his fees cheap, and several nobles have had lackluster parties saved by this man’s perfect song selection.

24. The Inclined

This man does not play on stage, and does not, in fact, regard himself as a musician. But he is, and it is deeply ingrained in his mind. Frequently, he accidentally makes music through everyday activities - he idly taps his silverware against his glass, creates a melody through the shifting of furniture, or orders cannons fired in a pleasing rhythm during battle. He does not realize he does this, but it is a part of him nonetheless.

25. The Chauvinist

This man is a talented player in a quartet, but proves annoying to his employer, as he absolutely refuses to play alongside a woman, regardless of her skill or experience. He is every bit as haughty as the Master, if not quite as skilled.

26. The Samaritan

The Samaritan does not play his instrument for wealth or other material gains. Rather, he plays only for good causes - to lighten the mood of a depressed couple, to raise money for orphans, or any number of other beneficial causes. Because of his benevolence, people take care of him.

27. The Bodyguard

Actually a skilled warrior, this man is the opposite of the Killer. Instead of hunting down his employer, he protects him with his life. The Bodyguard keeps his employer safe without giving the appearance that the man fears for his life.

28. The Slave

A talented musician, this man is nonetheless a slave who is forced to play at his master’s gatherings. He sees more than he lets on, and is perfectly willing to let a musician whom he knows to be a Killer or a Spy play for his master.

29. The Exotic

This musician plays an instrument that is not well known to his audience. It may simply be something from a distant land, or it may be an instrument of hisown devising. It could even be a magical instrument that plays its own harmony. Regardless, he demands higher fees than do other musicians of his own talent level.

30. The Cheapskate

The man in charge of the gathering is unwilling to hire a musician, so he learns how to play and entertains his guests himself. A nobleman may not want his guests to learn of this, and will likely disguise himself. A tavern owner will probably see no need for a disguise.

1. The Lord of the Undead
A master of sarcomancy and animation, this necromancer excells in the art of raising corporeal undead. With a gesture, he can raise legions of undead, with the reverse gesture he can banish them back into quiet death. He is a lord who seeks to rule over a world governed by the death with himself as it’s King.

2. Robber of Crypts
This cunning necromancer using powers of fear and the magics of necromancy to find hidden stashes, interrogating corpses and leaving them as traps for unsuspecting guards. The Robber of Crypts is a man interested in material wealth and uses the black art to facilitate his ability to find funeral gold and grave silver.

3. The Bone Witch
Hailing from an old tradition like the Council of Bone, the Bone Witch has powers that rely on bones for props. She casts shoulderblades into fires to divine the future, has a talking skull and bone handled, or even bladed weapons. She is the old crone of the evil eye, the old hag with a bit of black magic in her bag.

4. Doctor of Blasphemies
In searching for the secrets of life and death, and how to bring life back to the dead, this necromancer has delved into the deepest and blackest reaches of the art. He draws unholy life into cold dead vessels, creating monsters that are driven by the cold demands of necrosynthesis and the raw naked agony of a soul trapped in a rotting shell. Worst still, the Doctor believes himself to be a man of goodness and of godliness as he saws victims to make parts for his next work.

5. Mother of Monsters
Unlike the Doctor, the Mother of Monsters creates her whipstitched zombies out of a perverse desire to create horrific beasts. Her works can be seen trapped in cages at disreputable carnivals and freakshows. Each time one of her monsterous charges breaks free and people die, she secretly laughs as she serves her perverted and dark diety.

6. The Arcane Priest
This necromancer serves a potent god of death, and has mastered the arcane arts of necromancy. He bolsters his undead with un/holy symbols and dedicates his servants of sorcery to his diety. While easily as powerful as the Lord of the Undead, this necromancer’s power is tempered by the neutral stance of his god.

7. The Interrogator
Outwardly an upstanding mage who works for the King extracting confessions from rebels, traitors, assassins and murderers. Few know that he uses his keen intellect in conjunction with the black arts to inflict the most horrendous of tortures upon his victims to gain what he desires. Those who survive his questionings are forever lost to insanity…those that survive that is.

8. The Fallen Sorcerer
Failing to reach lichedom, and vampires out of the question, this necromancer secured himself a slice of immortality by binding himself into a ghost, haunting his old laboratory. He hoped to continue his works, but is now trapped as a ghost going through the motions of being a magician. He is very wise in the art, though now quite mad from his self inflicted entrapment.

9. The Sarcomancer
By studying ancient texts from a desert kingdom, this necromancer has found a way to create a potent form of greater undead. His bandaged servants are stronger and more reliable than normal zombies, and some retain their intelligence after being ritually killed and preserved. Only his command of necromancy prevents these intelligent undead from turning on him and killing him as well.

10. The Knight of Despair
Armed with a grimoire of spells bleak and terrifying and a sword that moans, hammered from the souls of the dead, the Knight of Despair combines the realm of Knightly Endeavors with the cold might of necromancy. His foes are risen as undead to be turned against their own compatriots and a barrage of spells is followed by brutal close combat with hook swords, notched axes and barbed spears.

11. The Lichling
This necromancer has mastered the spell to become a liche and has since joined the ranks of the undead. Unlike most liches, this necromancer has only been undead for a few years and is still getting the hang of his powers and limitations, and very few people know that he is among the undead.

12. The Cthonaut
Discontent with the world of the living, this mage excels in the art of ekstasis, literally dying and becoming a ghost to enter the underworld. There he is bound to explore and map places he sees, record conversations with long dead scholars and heroes. When he returns to the living he writes his scrolls, or paints masterpieces inspired by the tattered and burning memories of the dead.

13. The Seer
This necromancer uses the art to contact ghosts and spirits of the departed. Sometimes the seer works to right wrongful deaths, othertimes to contact deceased friends and family members. Many seers claim to have knowledge of the arts, but only a small number have said powers. Those that do do not run shops for such things, and will contact the dead but only at a price, to be paid up front.

14. The Hemomancer
Blood is the vital force of life, and the Blood Wizard uses it to power all of his spells. Lesser spells are cast by ritual self cutting and mutilation, while greater spells demand sacrifices of large amounts of blood. Human sacrifice is common in his magics, especially the more powerful and evil spells.

15. The Prophet of the Inevitable
Everything dies, this is the mantra of the prophet. This figure lives to see that things meet their proper end, be it a wooden door, or a lord who has survived many battles. his powers corrode and rot, decay and destroy. Those that feel his touch are forever changed, and his passage can be seen in suicides, immaculate deaths, and corrosion of the things he touches.

16. The Hunter
Rather than creating undead, this necromancer uses his powres over the necrotic arts to battle the undead. He destroys vampires and shadows, hunting wights into their barrows to put them to final rest. Now getting along in the years, he is looking for apprentices to take up the battle against the night, fighting fire with fire.

17. The Undead Sycophant
This necromancer is employed by one of the undead themselves, and he counts himself as friend and ally to a potent vampire. While the necromancer thinks them equals, the vampire is more than willing to sacrifice the necromancer to stall a band of PCs, or to exploit him for all his powers are worth.

18. The Necrothaumaturgist
Life and death are natural compliments to one another, and the fact that elves are so close to nature, yet deathless fascinates this necromancer. This elf has forsaken the path of trees and stars for midnight’s gloom and the close confines of crypts and mausoleums. He seeks the secrets of his own immortality and the transcience of human life. He is colder than ice and as meticulous as a cadre of scientists.

19. The Victim
This mage never planned on studying necromancy, and then he was infected and became a ghoul. Now only human flesh can sate his appetite while he becomes increasingly more desperate to find a cure for his degenerative condition. How long can he cling to his humanity before succumbing to base urges and naked cannibalism?

20. The Taxidermist
A clean and fastidious man, this necromancer found pets to be both desireable as companions, yet messy and all to organic for his liking. Some work with a knife and a few encantations, and his pet wolf was no longer leaving presents for him in the morning, no more slobbering, and no more food and water bowls. All of his animals, horse and hound alike are all either animal zombies or flesh golems.

21. The Spectre Collectre
This necromancer has a great curiosity into the very nature of ghosts and other bodiless undead. To this end, his laboratory is stocked with dozens of ghosts all locked in crystal jars. Visitors can be badly startled by the sometimes monsterous, and sometimes angelic faces that swirl inside of the glass vessels. He refers to them as his subjects and patients, but has neither remorse or pity for them, he lives only for his work.

22. Bane of Ghosts
Much like the Hunter, this necromancer uses his powers to fight the incorporeal dead, summoning and binding malicious ghosts into objects, cleansing haunted places, and exorcising ghosts who attempt to possess people and animals. A hard bitten man, he has seen children possessed kill adult with their hands and teeth, and has seen cold sociopaths continue to morbid acts of slain villians. He holds to Saint Duncan and continues his endless task.

23. The Black Goblin
The black art is not the sole property of humanity, and the Black Goblin has mastered its powers as proof of this. He paints his face white like a skull and is covered in cleaned bones that he wears as armor. He commands the goblin undead to rise, and sends the hosts of the slain against those humans, orcs, and other races who would subjugate his people into bondage.

24. The Cold One
To some, the cold embrace of the dead is safer than potential rejection by a living partner. This necromancer has a love who is dead and he keeps her well preserved, speaking to her constantly. Unlike Norbert the Creepy he only has the one corpse, to which he feels deeply in love and obligated to care for and protect.

25. The Ghost Horse
This necromancer invites the spirits of the dead to use his body. The dead jump at a chance to walk and speak, eat, breath, copulate, and to effect their revenges. He is constantly tired and looks haggard unless he is being ridden by a ghost, then he takes on the mannerisms of the ghost’s persona. One day he will die from this, but until then, he is like a junky waiting for the next hit.

26. Faux Black
This necromancer is nothing of the sort, having no skill in the art. His works are done by conventional magic, skeletons are animated objects, and much is done through use of illusions. He travels frequently, plying his trade as a vagabond to be respected and feared, one to be placated with tributes and bribes to leave before summoning hordes of undead and cursing things.

27. The Nethermancer
This necromancer knows that the undead have their own heirarchy, and etiquette and protocol are defining factors of this system. He has since learned the nuances of the dead and knows how to follow in their political circles, their forms of emotional currency. He can often be seen holding conversations with unseen companions, offering them cups of tea and sticks on incense.

28. The Devil’s Own
The difference between a ghost and a demon are minor to this necromancer. In his quest for lore of death and beyond he has delved into things not meant to be known, and has since fell into a demonic snare. His ghostly subjects are hellish, and the undead he raises are often abominations of hell with blood dripping maws, unnatural hungers for things other than brains, and a burning malice not found among the shambling dead. His time is coming…

29. The Bone Mage
Looking every bit the part of the tribal shaman, this necromancer has an animal skull for a hat and has a staff that is made of a fused spinal column. He is attending by the Osseous Legion, a warband of painted, beaded, and feathered skeletons of slain foes, monsters, and disgraced tribesmen. He rules the tribe and has since added the former chief to his beetle pit until the bones are ready to be animated.

30. The Gourmand
Life is a banquet and death sets the table, or so this necromancer believes. He dresses in the finest of velvets, and is immaculately clean at all times. His servants are dead and bound, and his meals are among the best in the kingdom, so long as the guests don’t ask questions about the sweetbreads.

These are 30 people that could be found in The Arcade District. However, you could put them in any entertainment area or faire.

1) Master Juggler:
He ia always on the same corner, just as you enter the Arcade from the Nicer district. He is a man of middling years; he could be young, he could be old. He can however keep eight or nine things in the air. He has a snappy patter and likes to juggle the classic plates. He will often be seen juggling 4 balls while walking through the crowd. He is the unofficial greeter of the district and can tell you about most of the comings and goings of people in these parts. He has an eye for detail and remembers everyone who goes by.

2) Singing Trio- April
The singing trio are girls in their younger teens who always perform together with great precision and harmonious voices. The three sound like a choir of angels. April likes finer things and dresses better than the others. She is also one of the girls that follows Lady December (24) to earn her extra money. This is the one who gave the girls their "stage" names, based on what she learned from Lady December. (She is the Blonde, think Brittany @16)

3) Singing Trio- May
This one looks like a little angel. However, she tends to dress down and not be as groomed as the others. Not because she can’t, but because she is hard pressed to do it without servants. She is a young noble third daughter trying to avoid an arranged marriage. She is a bit naive but the rest of the trio keeps her from doing things stupid. (She is the Redhead.. think Julia Roberts @14)

4) Singing Trio- June
Of the trio, June is the only one who really wants to be a minstrel forever. Her musical talents have gotten her out of her village and brought her to the city. This dark haired, dark eyed cutie is a friend with Motley (28) and is getting discounted lessons in entertaining. (She is the Brunette, insert singer of choice@15)

5) Singing Food Hawker
He should of been a bard, but his passion was food. He is a baker who hates to get up early, so he sells his wares (mostly sweets and hand pies) here at night. He normally sings to himself some lovely working tunes. However, now he sings loudly to draw people to his stall. He loves to flirt outragously (and in good fun) with any pretty young thing (or with any grandma, or any under escorted female). (Any Italian Character Actor)

6) Fiddler most country
Because of a robbery and an accident with his horse and cart, he was unable to return to his village. Now he plays country tunes on his fiddle for those who listen. He will, every few days, set up an area for a square dance. He does the calling as well as most of the playing. The Trio often come to these dances.

7) Barker
He is loud. He is slick. He sounds so charismatic, that he could get you to put your two coppers down to see this marvel in his tent. His snappy patter draws people in to his little tent. There you pass through a little display of odditites that sounded so much more interesting outside. The man is a greasy slime ball in real life, but his gift for gab is exceptional. He does have a gambling issue, but has so far managed not to get himself in too much trouble because of it. (I see Tony Shalhoub with a greasy mustache as this one, but you can cast anyone).

8) Trainer and Wolf Dogs
This trainer and his three fearsome wolves put on quite a show of snarling, howling, jumping through hoops and up on stools, flipping, walking a tiny highwire, and standing on their back two legs. The show is fairly entertaining. The Trainer dresses like a wild woodsman. The Dogs are kept in a fierce cages. Often one will "break out" of its cage, but he will reign it in with his loud voice and whip crack. Any forester or someone with wilds experience can tell they are not really wolves, but dogs with some wolf blood in them (and some touches of dye to make them more wolf like). Outside the show, the dogs are fun and friendly. So they are often running about after hours. The Singing Hawker (5) is often shooing them away from his stall.

9) Washed up Noble Singer
Though a bit in his cups (buzzed on drink), he can sing quite a tune. His clothing is a bit dated and dirty, but he can still draw a crowd. Given some time and some drink, he will weave a tale of woah (you did what?) and woe (awwwww) on how the nobles used him badly and thew him aside. He still has some inside dirt on the nobles that he has not the guts or the brains to try and exploit. (Insert any washed up male popstar from the 80s)

10) Cardsharp
With his steely eyes and sharp mind, he can tell who you are and what you are thinking about. He dresses well (lower upper class), a mark of his success in his profession. He will play anything with cards and any game of skill. While he will toss the dice to pass the time, unless it is liars dice, random things do not interest him. He has come far from his street urchin days. He maintains his grooming and style because of his days of being poor. He will also toss coins to every urchin he sees. His keen mind and sharp eyes are useful when he helps the Kingsman (16) out from time to time. (Val Kilmer in his Doc Holiday look).

11) Street Magician
While he is a minor mage, he is a top notch performer. He likes to do street magic and stunts in the street, but he is best at stage magic. His skill at slight of hand and illusions of the mundane types are high marked. He only occassionally augments them with a real spell.

His act also stands out because of his Elven Assistant. In a world of few Elves or no Elves doing "lowly" tasks, she stands out. She is quite comely, with long hair and delicate features. She dresses scantily, like a wood nymph, and helps to distract the rubes. She really isn’t an elf. She just has the right sort of features combined with a little makeup and some special ears. She tries to keep in character most of the time. When she is "herself", she distances herself from the magician and everything, as to not spoil the illusion. She and the Bioshen (14) are friends.

12) Fortune Teller
She is all about the moaning and trancing and mysticism. She is practically a fake, as her ability to see the future is limited and sporadic at best. So she makes do with showmanship and cryptic remarks. She gets information from a couple of sources in the crowds so she can make her predictions spot on. She helped the Cardsharp (10) when he was younger a few times, so she can call on him when she needs to.

13) The Crazy Priest
Someone has to save all these people’s souls. This priest, who has a small shack of a church, fumbles about the Arcade.. accosting people, mumbling holy scripture, waving holy items at people, all in an attempt to save the souls of those lost to the entertainment. He occassionally has an escort (an actual acolyte from a real temple OR a new covert or some urchin looking for some coins/food). (I see Christopher Lloyd cast as this character).

14) Bioshen
This is an extremely beautiful young man, with an extremely polite and vaguely effeminate manner. In fact, many people think "he" is actually a she. This is not helped by the stylish (but foppish) clothing of rich fabrics. The Bioshen strolls the crowd, playing their lute and occasionally singing a love song in his contralto (a voice range that cover the lowest husky female singing voice or the highest voice in the male range). He has an opposites attract friendship with the Kingsman (16)

15) Pickpocket and Roustabout
Not a performer, but someone who hangs around the district doing odd jobs like moving trunks or scenery, taking tickets, acting as a watchmen for an open act (the one who acts as a bouncer should a patron get offensive for a street act), and so on. Most roustabouts are really honest folks. This is the exception that seems to reinforce the stereotype that all people around the theater/ performing arts are all criminals at heart.

16) Kingsman/ Marshall
The mighty often fall. He is one of them. He is an ex-Kingsman, who used to be a special guard for the crown. He did body guard work and the occasional "thing that needed to be done". (Think of him as a primitive detective/ investigator, a minor intelligencer (spy), Law enforcing, and bodyguarding. He did much of what a modern private detective does.)

Turned out for something he didn’t do (via politically maneuvering), he found his way to the Arcade to drink away his troubles. He was a lousy drunk, staying somewhat sober most of the times. After a short while, someone had a problem and asked him to help. Reluctantly, he did so. Soon many people came to him with private problems. Between the coin and favors generated by this "work", he is maintaining himself. He now has a network of people who work The Arcade who will look out for things for him. His main snitch is The Barker (7). The Cardsharp (10) is something of a Sidekick/ partner when he is investigating things. He and the Bioshen (14) have an odd friendship going too, as nobody, including both of them, understand why they are friends. (He is the perfect action hero, so choose yours and cast him as The King’s man.)

17) Momma
Momma is a hefty woman who is beloved by everyone, customer and Arcade performer. She is a street performer who sings, juggles, and plays a variety of wind instruments. She will also act, if the part is there. Having no children of her own with her Husband, The Big Fun Actor (21), she has adopted every young actor/ minstrel/ singer in the area. She also takes care of everyone in the Arcade, trying to make sure all the performers are fed (to some degree), clothed, and have places to stay (no matter how ramshackle). She is known to flirt for fun with the pie man (5). (Liz Torres of TV fame is a good hook)

18) The Cat
This tumbler acrobat has a whole shtick of being a cat. His costume is a mix of furs and tights, with cat makeup. (image google "cats" actors). He can cause quite the stir and is very, very good.

He is also the best burglar in town. Ne never wears any cat gear on a job, but sticks to black leathers and a kerchief mask. He has a reputation for being a "people’s thief" robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. People know he gives a great deal of money and goods to the poor. He will occassionally raid the pantry of the rich and give to the poor on holidays. The reality it a little different. "What is the point of robbing poor people?" he has been known to say. He does try to target more "annoying rich people", but anyone will do. (He will often strike when they are in a theatre in the Arcade). He does give money to the poor, just not very much of his take as people think he does. "My expenses are greater than expected", he says. The Kingsman (16) knows who he is and what he does. He will occasionally "tap" him to burgle papers and such for him. (Think a young Cary Grant)

19) Ace
He is someone who hangs about the district. He tends to win most of the Knife throwing contests, so people leave him alone. He seems to just occasionally drink and spend almost all his time at the Pachinko machines. He actually is an Agent of May’s (3) father. He is watching over her. It just so happens that pachinko places are right near where the girls are sleeping, where they eat, and where they frequently perform. So it is a perfect cover. Besides he likes the odd little games. (Think Nicholas Cage)

20) Fine Young actor
He is the current toast of the Arcade. He is the finest young actor in a decade. Not only is he good looking, but he has skill, timing, and charisma. He is destined for big things. A flaw he might have is that he is vain, but not overly so. He will take great offense to those who besmirch his looks. He always seems to have ladies on his arms, and at his sides. Some of them are older women who patronize the arts. Some say he sells his services on the sides, but most realize he just "loves" his fans. He is has a big friend in The Big Fun Actor (21). However, most people think he will just steer this bright young star down the wrong path. Note: he has a secret. While he has great innate talent, he has been intensely tutored and coached by Motley (28). Neither wants to reveal this connection; the young actor because of his vain pride (wanting to seem more skilled than he is) and Motley who is grooming him as a tool of revenge sometime in the future.

21) Big Fun Actor
He is a man of good size and great girth. He is always merry and gay, (except when acting a serious part). He likes to drink, carouse, and cause a bit of mischief. He is a bit selfish, thinking of himself first in almost everything. Everyone loves the charismatic and charming galoot, so they forgive him (most of) his excesses and flaws. He has been married to Mamma (17) for nearly 25 years now. (Think Falstaff).

22) Street Artist
The Street Artist is always in the Arcade. Sometimes he is painting sets. Other times he is painting signs for stalls or murals on building walls. If he is not doing that, he has his easel up and is doing chalk portraits of people on the sidewalks. (Think of it as the 13th century version of the photobooth at the mall or faire.) He is not a great artist, but he is not bad. This lack of skill keeps him from big commissions. He is familiar to people in the district, so he tends to get all their work.

23) Soup Guy
His fairy godmother hit him a little hard with the ugly stick. He is a round man, with a huge nose, balding, and fairly ... well… ugly features. However, he makes the best soups. He could make Stone Soup taste good. His stall always has several pots warm, each filled with liquid goodness. Sold by the cheap bowl at a good cheap price, the soup is the primary food source for many here.

24) Lady of the Evening and three of her friends.
Lady December, the only name anyone knows her by, is in charge of all the "ladies" that might ply the Arcade District. While they are not quite a guild, they have banded together for strength in numbers. Lady December is quite refined and seemingly well off. She is still striking even as she is approaching her middle years. Always has a number of "friends" looking for the right gentlemen at her side, she walks the arcade checking up on her ladies.

Note: most of the ladies here have "other jobs" and they use their "lady’s gifts" to augment their income. There are many "special tents" where her ladies can entertain someone scattered in out of the way sections of the Arcade.

25) The Funny Guy
A player known for always having a lute and a bawdy song. He is not a great singer or player, but he is a great performer. He tells jokes. He makes mild political commentary. He gets everyone around him involved in his act. Really he is a master showman. He just seems to be a total goof stumbling through life. Think Danny Kay.

26) Builder
Literally the Builder holds The District together. He works the "day shift" here, when things are not that active. He does most of the woodworking and construction around here, for tents, buildings, and stages. He takes pride in the fact that his tent staves do not break as easy as others. That his "guild secret" pole mounts and fasteners are better than anything else. (Think an older Harrison Ford. )

27) Pack of young lower upper class
There always seems to be one here. The pack always seems to act as one. While individuals in the pack might change, the pack never seems to. It is filled with young men, lower upper class, dressed well and with a few coins to drop. They are sons of nobles or just the retainers of the houses, out for some fun. It just roams the Arcade, moving from one diversion to another.

28) Motley
He once entertained Kings and Princes. Now, he has been cast out from court. He is an Ex-Fool. Yet he has his skills. He is the finest overall entertainer in The District, and that is saying something. He can sing, dance, juggle, tumble, recite poetry, act, and give comedic wit and jokes, all with equal ease. He could be doing much more with himself, but he seems to limit himself to drinking and entertaining here at the Arcade. He always has a crowd, but seems to cut his act short when a pack of young nobles (27) or certain older nobles come near. He is also making good income teaching those who want to learn greater skills. He is currently teaching June (4) and secretly, The Fine Young Actor (20).

29) Uptight Female Actress
She is the local Diva. She is thin, tall, and well coifed. She is a grand dame, expecting everyone to obey her whims and follow her directions. While she is a great actress, she is not nearly as good as she thinks she is. (Think of an older Joan Collins.)

30) Old Man Actor
He is an older and distinguished gentleman. He is a fine actor, with an impressive range. While he mostly acts, he sometimes directs and coaches the players in his plays, to make sure everyone is doing their best. He is the defacto leader of The Arcade District. It is not a role he wanted, but it is one he accepts. If anyone has a dispute or a problem, they seem to come to him to resolve it. Think Sir Laurence Olivier, with that degree of charm, wit, and charisma, and you have him.

A horde is the name I use for any grouping of mooks or small humanoid monsters that only challenge the PC because of their numbers. A Goblin Horde or a Thug Horde or a Tribal Horde as examples. Here is a fantasy horde ready to interact with the PCs as needed.

1) Leader:
He is the new leader. He deposed the Old Greyhaired Leader a while back. The Horde follows him now.

The leader tends to wear a great deal of religious paraphanalia (if shamanaistic, this tends to be bones and feathers). He will espouse religious sounding drivel and quote any religious text (badly) as needed.

2) Second:
He is a shifty eyed schemer. He helps The Leader with cunning plans. He also spots any disloyalty and reports it to the Leader. Both vicious and just mean, he revels in his power over the others. Realizing The Leader is both his key to power and the only thing keeping the rest of the Horde from killing him, he is totally loyal to him. The Leader often has to reprimand him with the back of his hand to his head, to keep him focused on the task at hand rather than his petty gloating and desire to inflict pain.

3)The Big One:
He is the largest and strongest of the Horde. He is of average brains, but slow in speed, so he is sometimes underestimated. His primary role is The Enforcer of Leader’s Will. He keeps everyone in line. He is also the main shock trooper of the Horde.

4) Squad Leader:
This is the toughest and smartest member of this Horde. He is in total command of his “squad”. He appears to be a loyal supporter of The Leader who has been generous to him and his squad. While he is a mercenary, he is a loyal mercenary (Once bought stays bought until his agreement is over). Eventually, he and his will leave this Horde to find a better one or create his own.

5) The Smart One: He is the smartest and most learned of the Horde. He is constantly butting heads with the Second and the Leader about “the smartest thing to do.” While he thinks he would make an okay leader, he really wants to be the number two guy. He is the group’s medic as well.

6) Hatchet: He is an ugly man who specializes in axes. He has carries a number of hatchets.

7) Greybeard: This is the old man of the group. He has been raiding with one horde or another since before most of these kids were born. He is the one everyone, except the Smart and Sly one, looks up to. He supported the take over from the Old Gray Haired leader with some reservations. He goes along with the Leader, but if he is doing something “totally daft”, he might speak up out of turn. The leader should listen to him, otherwise the group might have a new leader.

8) The Sly One: He is the one eyed master of the short sword. He is actually the smartest one in the Horde at the moment. While thinking about taking over, he is biding his time for the prefect moment. If nothing else, he keeps things in motion in the group (a whisper here, a “I heard Greybeard say…” there, and the occassional stolen item) to make the Second look foolish.

9) The Odd One: If this is a goblin horde, he is the hobgoblin. If it is a human horde, he is the dark skinned foreigner or the blond pretty boy. He is just like the rest of the group, but he stands out as different.

10) The Loud One: He says, “My Warhammer does my talking” all the time. However, he never shuts up. Some people are just loud and always talking. He is often hanging around with the Grey Beard or the Drunk One.

11) The Green Vest: His only distinctive feature is he is wearing a green vest, something he obviously stole from someone much better off than he a while back. Other than that, he hangs around with the Fat One.

12-14) Curly, Larry, and Moe
These three are inseparable. They are constantly poking, pushing, and fighting each other. However, when presented by an opponent, the three of them fight as a coordinated team.

15) The Fast One aka: The Knife One: He has a large, dagger like nose. He has cat like reflexes and strikes like lightning. He likes to juggle… usually his knives. He always seems to have a knife in his hand… usually cleaning the grime out from under his nails.

16) The Drunk One: He always has a bottle at hand. Often times you will seem him “sleeping it off”.

17) Giggler: He seems to be a jester of sorts. In reality, he is insane and a psychopath. He capers around and acts odd. He is often giggling at his own internal brilliance. In a fight he leaps, tumbles, taunts, and comes at people from all odd angles. This “drunken style”/ “acrobatic” style makes him a dangerous opponent.

18) The Silent One: He is the Horde’s master of stealth. He does some of the scouting, especially in urban areas. While is is fairly stealthy, he is no Ninja. This one works for the Sly One.

19) Sling Mistress:
She appears to be small and shy. In reality, she is just small because she is young. Unable to compete with the others in melee combat, she uses her sling to great effect. She is the horde’s ranged weapon specialist and back up hunter.

20-24) The Squad:
These five stick together. They appear to be the most skilled fighters of the Horde. They follow their leader and seem to have some degree of discipline. They actually drill and practice. They have better weapons and bits and pieces of military uniforms as part of their gear. They hold the rest of the Horde is distain, keeping themselves apart from the others.

25) The Hunter:
This one is all business. He is the main one who does the scouting and hunting for the horde. He likes to be alone doing his job. He finds the rest of the horde to be annoying.

26) The Fat Singing One:
He is the one that seems to be holding the Horde together with a quick word and a laughing smile. He is the group cook, so he has some degree of importance beyond that of his fighting skill.

27) The Hungry One: He is always raiding the Fat One’s supplies. Every time a PC sees him he is eating something.

28) The Pretty One: A Female Campfollower. And if this is a goblin horde, the term pretty is quite relative. Heck, as human it is quite relative as she is not that pretty or she could of hooked up with a better horde leader. She is always hiding somewhere once everything hits the fan.

29) The New One: He is the green new recruit. He is younger and a bit smaller than the rest. How he hooked up with this horde it is hard to say (maybe he is someone’s little brother). He is over eager to prove himself.

30) The Lowly:
He is the one that gets all the crappy jobs. He is the one everyone else can mistreat and do. He mutters that he doesn’t know why he stays. Really he stays because he has no where else to go. Someday he will avenge himself against the others who have treated him badly. He is your escape route, if you promise to kill certain goblins on your way out.

1- The Bright Side
This peasant always smiles and has a sunny, optimistic outlook despite his many scars and disfigurements that speak of an incredibly hard life. His happy go lucky nature means that even in the worst circumstances he will try and cheer those up around him with a friendly toothless grin or wave of his mangled hand.

2- The Drunkard
Wreathed in the stench of cheap alcohol this obese drunk peasant will instantly take a liking to anyone he meets. However, his moods are fickle and he is as likely to challenge you to a fight, as he is to burst into tears or fall completely comatose mid sentence. Unbelievably he peasant claims to actually be a frog that was turned into a man by an Elf Sorceress. He will go to great lengths hopping around, ribbiting and splashing about in ponds to try and prove the point, of course his brother claims he is just doing it to get out of cleaning the privy pit.

3- Shaker
This tiny peasant is constantly shaking, and jumps at the sight of his own shadow. Even the barest threat of violence or pain reduces him to tears, making him quite inconsolable for hours to come.

4- Mr.Worry
A constant worrier this small and scruffy peasant is constantly nay saying and warning doom upon those around him. Every plan of action prompts the peasant to suck his teeth and sharply intake his breath, usually accompanied by much head shaking. This poor peasant has found a strange statue buried in his field. He is now in a quandary, as he does not recognize the statue and is not sure whether he will be either praised or burned at the stake for unearthing it.

5- Freakshow
Old, warty and completely naked, this wrinkled peasant is either destitute or has taken some kind of vow against clothes. Unabashed about his appearance he will confidently strut around wearing only rolls of aged flesh and a covering of patchy grey hair. He is a collector of rare and strange dirt and wants to buy the dirt from the adventurers’ shoes for his collection. If they accept he will tell them all about his plans to create a special kind of dirt potion, in which even people could be grown…

6- Grandpa
This wizened old peasant likes to tell long pointless stories about the old days, and it seems everything that is said reminds him of something that once happened to him, ‘when he was your age’.

7- The Fabricator
An old and warty man with a noticeable limp, this peasant has a strong distrust of wheels, having once been run over by a wagon, and views all things round with deep suspicion, even peoples eyes if they open them too wide. He is a fabricator of replacement body parts and has a commission to make a wooden nose for the local lord. However, the lord wants it to look exactly like his old nose and no one knows what it looked like, except the man that took it from him…

8- The Pigfarmer
Big and slow-witted this peasant is thick as a post but friendly. He will smile and nod at everything that is said to him, pretending he understands (i.e. ‘It’s very important you don’t let go of this rope’, the peasant smiles and nods). It seems he is in possession of a cursed pig. Strangely intelligent the pig seems to know things just before they happen and has so far managed to avoid all attempts to kill and eat it, mostly by disguising itself as other pigs.

9- The Pessimist
Gifted with a nasally annoying voice this scruffy little peasant can’t help but point out the worst in every situations and constantly whines about his woes, which are numerous and terrible. Apparently this peasant saw a dead horse fall from the sky and knows where it might be found.

10- The Dragger
This single limbed peasant is bereft of both legs and one arm causing him to drag himself around on a small, wheeled tray of cunning design. Perhaps because it is his only limb he possesses amazing dexterity in his remaining arm, able to perform clever card tricks and amazing shadow puppetry with ease.

11- Call me Clumsy
A clumsy and ham fisted fellow this young peasant is falling over himself (quite literally) to help. However, he is terminally uncoordinated and if he attempts all but the simplest of tasks, such as lying down quietly, he is bound to make a right pigs ear of them. This peasant has lost his most prized (and only possession, his cow Manfred.

12- Yuck
This shifty and filthy looking peasant has an unpleasant habit of standing uncomfortably close to you when he talks. Apart from the terrible smell this also you a close up view of his many lesions and sores, which he mindlessly picks and scratches as he talks.

13- Mr.Black
Pathetically grateful for any attention this badly burned peasant will go out of his way to help you in any task you might undertake, despite that fact that it obviously causes him no end of pain, and visible oozing from his burns.

14- Stutter
This p-p-poor p-p-peasant has a terrible s-s-stutter but cannot help but try and be as helpful as possible, if only he can get his meaning across. He also seems to possess an extremely large vocabulary for a peasant, something that makes his attempts at communication worse.

15- Paranoid Patroness
When this peasant was a young girl she saw something nasty in the West Wood. Ever since, she has warned her sons and grandsons and great-grandsons not to go down there or the Elves will get them. She has never even seen an Elf, but he knows he hates them!

16- Boasting and Bored
This peasants permanently furrowed brow and gravely voice are offset by his soft, Hobbit pot-belly: he is mean but not lean. He boasts to have killed of five wolfs, three bandits and one monster of uncertain identity. All of these attacked his sheep at some point. Not a word of it is true. In reality he was just a bored country boy who ran away from the farm to seek a more exciting life; his grim looks and terse silences are all just an act.

17- Horseblood
This farmer has spent his whole life in his village and worked hard to raise the best horses and pigs he could. He succeeded so well that he began running a shop, selling his animals to the other farmers, as well as feed for them and other such necessities. In a village as small as as the Hamlet he lives in, his services and intense civic pride have elevated him to something of a political leader as well. Which is why he wont be letting any no-good travelling adventurers interfere with his practices of feeding human blood to his horses to make them extra strong. The locals do not mind of course, but outsiders always question things and cause trouble with their foolish outsider ways.

18- Conniving Leech
This peasant watched his parents work themselves to death on their tiny little turnip farm and quickly realised that the only thing that matters in life is money. He is really more annoying than evil, for his goals never extend beyond extorting another shilling or two.

19- Helping Hand
This particular young (and naive) gentle will offer anything from common assistance to very private information (much to the disappointment of friends and family alike). This is not malicious or ill-willed, he’s just very honest and forward to a fault.

20- Trailing Teenager
A young and lovely girl with a passion for anything NOT her village. Completely enamored with gentlemen travelers, mostly in the hope of finding a way out of her tiny village and on to greater places.

21- Following the Leader
Twin boys, dirty and bruised from head to toe. Both carry wooden swords and makeshift shields. Will follow any group of hearty-looking travelers all over the village, pretending to be part of the group. Commonly found underfoot or a few yards behind the travelers a few miles outside the village.

22- The Lecherous Husband
A common man with uncommon appetites. Well known locally to be unhappily married, he will make not-so-obvious advances towards any woman travelling through the village.

23- The Drunkard Flirt
This seemingly average woman spends most of her time in the local inn or tavern, spending her husband’s hard earned money on copious amounts of drink. Combined with a severe case of flirting brought on by alcohol, she can be quite a pest.

24- The Workhorse
He works hard for his wages - and doesn’t do much else. Completely dedicated to his mundane life’s work, he is well-built and extremely knowledgeable in his craft. Don’t bother trying to get him to talk about something else, though.

25- The Scandalizer
If something happens, she’s the first to know about it. Always where the news and action is, she spreads rumors like wildfire. Many find her useful, but no one really likes her: everyone’s afraid that their secrets will become the entire village’s if they get too close.

26- The Observer
This dour peasant often happens to be around adventurous parties, self-styled knights in shining armor and the like. Never talking to them, it can be overheard they must be thieves or bandits, and the folks better watch their life and limb. He will follow the newcomers and make sure they won’t do anything wrong. His potato farm stay neglected.

27- The Religious
This peasant woman thinks that the gods send her dreams. Most of her fellow peasants ridicule her and laugh at her, whilst those who don’t warn her to keep her ideas to herself. If the Church leaders in the nearest town were to hear of her they might charge her with heresy.

28- Deal-Maker
This guy isn’t necessarily greedy or shady, but he comes across that way. He just can’t resist deal-making. He’ll sell his only plough ox if the price is right—and will suggest such if given half a chance. He’ll buy or trade whatever trinkets & souvenirs the pc’s have if he thinks he’s getting a good deal, whether he has any use for them or not, or even if he has no chance of ever convincing someone else to buy or trade them.

29- Miss Eyes-on-the-Sky
She is a daydreamer. She longs to be taken far away from this dump by some handsome prince. However, the pc’s aren’t ever going to match up to her vision of a proper suitor. She fantasizes about travelling the big wide world, so much so that she spills what she’s pouring, or trips over obstacles in her path. However, that same native intelligence that causes her mind to wander also causes her to realise that the world is a big and scary place outside of her quiet little mountain town, and she knows she would miss her friends & family too much—even her stupid brother.

30- Not My Grandma
This is an elderly lady—very elderly. Time has twisted her face and body into a cruel parody of what it once was. No one in the village claims any kinship to her, even though it is likely that many of them are her kin. She seems to spend her days shambling about, napping in odd places, and mumbling to herself. No one takes care of her, and most people try to ignore her as much as possible. Her speech is as twisted as her visage, and no one understands a word she says. Maybe she doesn’t understand herself.

2- Serving Maid
She was young, with a nice body and homely face. That was just a few years ago. Now she is the serving maid in charge of the others around here. In fact, she is now married to the barkeep/ owner.

3- Serving Wench
The Serving wench is the one who carries the food (such that it is) out to the tables with large trays. This one is a saucy girl who flirts shamelessly with everyone. She is not bad looking and wears tigher and more padded clothing than the others. Thus she is more immune to the groping and butt slapping than the others. She does have a secret, she is a he. He started dressing up long ago to get the job and get better tips. Now he just does it because he likes it.

4-13 10 Sailors
Choose 10 sailors from these groups. So you can have 5+3+2 or 3+3+4 or 4+4+2 members. Remember that these crewmen should have ships in the port. So if the players have investigated the docks and know the ships, make sure to have crew to match those ships. Or you can just bump up the numbers by choosing several of these.

a) Five Guys from the same crews These are local fisher boys. They are loud, boistrous, and think they own the place. (They spend enough money here, you think they did…). They don’t like “strange people” here. That is mostly land people, but it can extend to strange sailors. If you opt to have two sets of five locals, then the two sets will break into a boasting match over who caught more of what each day.

b) Four Saliors from a Trading Crew These are professional sailors blowing off steam. They sail pirate infested waters, so these guys know how to fight too. They know exotic fighting techniques, mostly hand to hand ... but they have some exotic weapons from other lands.

c) Four Navy Saliors These are military sailors. They are a bit more polite and refined than most, but they are still having a good time. They are touchy about their honor and the honor of their navy.

d) Four Guys from a ship with one local who used to be here He used to be part of their crew, but he has put down roots here. All of these sailors are/ were adventurering sailors, so they will have some PC comperable gear and powers. The Local guy can “tap” the other locals in a pinch.

e) Three Guys from Odd ship Nobody knows much about this ship. It put into dock for repairs and water. Nobody is doing anything, unloading or loading, no trading, no nothing. Only a couple of them are allowed off at the time. These three are simply drinking and trying to stay to themselves.

f) Three Overly Happy Guys who made a bonus sailing in They just want to drink, sing, and wench. They will make no trouble, just way, way too much noise.

g) Three Solemn Sailors A friend died and they are morning him. They may get a little more maudelin or rowdy as the night goes on.

h) Two Exotic Sailors from far away who are crewing local trader. These two sailors are from far away and are visually distinctive. They wear native garb, or as much of it as the weather permits.

>>>>>>

14-15 Bing and Bob
Ever see a “Road” picture? (If no, do the google or IMDB search.) These two are bumbling their way through an adventure and they may drag you into some danger because they are here. So when the door kicks open and DARK KNIGHTS poor in, they will hit the road and you and your friend will be fighting these guys. They will ascond with the princess, dragging royal guardsmen behind them who will now sniff at you… (adventurers… they are prone to do odd thigns…) and so on.

16-17 Two Captains of local fishers/ traders
They are boisterous and boastful. Mostly they are swapping tall tales while drinking. They are practically tonights entertainment… storytelling. They are drinking and having fun

18 Young Sailor: It is his first crewing (or nearly) on a trader. He is just off his ship, but not part of “the regular crew”, so they left him behind. He is making his way through the town.

19-22 The Quiet Dangerous Looking Table They are trying to keep a low profile, and they are even slightly disguised, but they just have that “we’re dangerous” look about them. They are an ex-military Pirate captain and three of his crew. They just want to drink and plan. They might be looking for someone, maybe the nervous guy.

23 The Nervous Man:
He is a scribe or government type waiting for his contact here.

24-25 Two Longshoreman
They may not be sailors, but they are “of the sea”.

26-27 The Old Guy and the Kid
Looking for passage with no questions asked. The Old Guy seems fairly calm and confident, the Kid is sooo green it is painful.

28- Captain’s Wench
This is an upscale dockside working girl (oxymoron?). She will only “be with” a Captain or Officer. She is prettier, cleaner, and more refined than what one would expect. She is more of an escort, making the captain buy her drinks and food (as well as others). She actually works for the house to promote people to spend.

29- Wench the Other
This working girl is much what you would expect, though a bit cleaner and a touch better made up. She is following the Captain’s Wench and entertaining the rest of the Captain’s table. If she gets lucky, she will see if she can snag a captain of her own.

30- Wench Three A working girl passed out on a way back bench. There are a couple of coins in her mug, as obviously she had some clients while she was passed out who did not care about her being awake.

2 - The Bar Maid
Okay, she is not a maid any longer. She has been doing this for fifteen years and it shows. She can handle any crowd and she keeps the place in line. She is the only one that goes back to the kitchen for food. The Barkeep has an “Old Nan” cooking in back. Nobody ever sees her.

3-6 Einne, Meannie, Minnie, and Moe
These are four friends fresh from their guild work (or fields depending on the location) who are spending their hard earned coins on some beer and fun. You might of seen them earlier today if you went purchasing things in town. They are sitting at the table/ benches near the fire. They are loud, but not too loud. They are coarse, but not too coarse. They are a fun bunch, and other fun people people can join them.

7-8 - The Magister and his Apprentice
He is a man of middling years and great administrative responsibilities for the town/ region. He is tall and something of a regal bearing. He looks like he has the weight of his shoulders. Frequently, he will be playing chess with the Old Priest.

The apprentice is a small mouse of a boy turned a man. He is non-discript and silent like a ninja. He is always carrying a bundle of books and scrolls.

9- Old Priest
His robes are quite rich, but beginning to show the years of age. He is a grey stooped man who has a gentle voice. Frequently he will be playing chess with the Magister.

10-11 Older Guilds Men
The Middling age men have a hard grim look about them. They are simply men whos livelihoods are being threatened by competition from nearby towns.

12-13 Travelling Nobles
The Sir is a young lesser noble of blue blood but little gold. He is dressed well, though not of the latest style. He might play the “high noble slumming it”, but really he can’t afford much better and does not want to be seen by his peerage here.

The Knight is a unlanded knight who makes his living as a slightly pedigreed sellsword. The two fell in with each other a while back travelling the same direction. They have been companions ever since.

14 Lone Drinker
He is a deeply sullen man deep in his cups. His heart has been broken and he has yet to recover. His heart was broken six years ago by the way. He survives by doing odd jobs.

15-17 A farmer from not far away and his two sons
You can tell they are all related. They all have the same homely face, the same straw hair, and the same deep sunk eyes. Each is the spitting image of the other, at its appropriate age. On their way back from market.

18-20 Curly, Larry, and the other Moe
Three more locals are keeping to themselves. Not quite as loud or rowdy as Einne, Meannie, Minnie, and Moe. They are occasionally playing cards or dice. They seem more interested in becoming drunk than doing anything

21 Run Away
This is a youth on the run from his responsibilities elsewhere. He is hiding out around here. He could be a young noble dodging an arranged marriage or avoiding being sent to the priesthood. He could be a serf dodging his lord, or a vassal avoiding paying his taxes. It all depends on what you need. The guy seems nice enough and can be quite excitable and fun. However, he will often realized he might be noticed and retreat back into a shell.

22-24 People from far away
These people are speaking a language for a country over. They dress oddly too. Actually they are not travellers, they are locals. They live and work around these parts and get together every now and again here at the bar to talk about things in their mother tongue.

25-28 Pilgrims
These are people travelling to a Holy Place not too far from here. One is looking for healing, while the rest are looking either for a vacation or to clear their sins. They are not “well to do”, thus they are staying here.

29- The Third Man
This is not a seedy joint. There are no criminals here. There is a Third Man. He is the guy, who knows guys. He arranges meetings between people (who might be doing illegal things). He can also make arrangements for you to get items or work barters out. Peterus He-Who-Knows-People or Dougilus Magicus are good Third Men.

30- The Minstrel with the Red Floppy Hat and Big Feather.
Let us face it, this guy is not a bard. He can carry a tune and is fairly competent player. He has no magic and will never play for a nobleman. He is not famous, but most of the locals will know of him. He has a vast knowledge of songs. If you talk to him, he is a nice enough fellow… though a little road weary. While he is not widely travelled, he does know the local region quite well, as he has a circuit of taverns and market days he plays. He is a good source of information about the local region.

1. Old Chummy
The old pirate in the red striped shirt, always with a concertina, or a dirty bottle of pirate rum, Old Chummy is always willing to help the new lads learn the ropes and knows the Pirate code down to the letters. Old Chummy stands by his captain, and makes sure that the rest of the men do to.

2. Peg Legs
Not all aspects of a pirate’s life is rum and booty. There is often a price to be paid, and Davy Jones will take his payment in arms and legs. Peg Legs lost both of his legs below the knees to a cannon shot, and since then plonks around with a cane and two wooden legs.

3. The Bosun
A second in command, this pirate stands with the officers of the ship, or rather behind them. If a pirate is ratted out to the captain, it is usually done by the Bosun. This pirate is vital to the function of the ship, but no one would miss him if he were pitched overboard.

4. The Deserter
Formerly part of the Royal Navy, this ne’er do well has given up the King’s colors to fly under a pirate flag. He has his own reasons, but the Deserter is not a trusted pirate, even by his own shipmates. He’s jumped ship once, who’s not to say he won’t do it again?

5. The Maori
Tall and commanding, this pirate comes from a distant land and is likely to carry an imposing tribal weapon as well as being decked out in piercings, strange tattoos and trinkets of good luck and protection against whatever ails the giant.

6. Failed Merchant
Surrounded by debt and hearing the clank of debtor’s prison, this man fled his home country, forsaking land and obligation to take up a new life on the sea. Somewhere he has a family and many people who would like to see him hang for the money he owes them.

7. The Criminal
Unlike the failed merchant, this pirate comes from a black background and has a number of murders that have been tacked to him. Unlike the merchant, the criminal is proud of escaping the hangman’s noose and has adopted a suitable seadog name. Some examples might be Two-Stab Tom, Cut-Throat Bill, or something suitably colorful.

8. Cannon Man
This pirate is seen with slow matches tucked into his hat and his hands and face show burns from powder charges. Instead of a cutlass, the cannon man has two braces of pistols and can man anything from a 12 pounder long cannon to a deck mounted pot-de-fers.

9. Old John Belaying Pin
Big and tall, handy in a fight, Old John has been sailing for years and knows that the best weapon is the one closest at hand. He is known for his skillful use of a belaying pin rather than a pistol of cutlass. Old John is a close friend of Old Chummy.

10. Cookie John
The ship’s cook and resident historian and storyteller. He has seen plenty of action and after loosing a hand and an eye he found a place below decks. He also keeps a run on the mess and the crew, an unofficial third man in charge after the captain and bosun.

11. Bill the Hook
This macabre pirate lost his hand in a boarding action and has since had is replaced with a hook. He has taken the time to make the hook into a weapon rather than a tool. The point is sharp, and the inner edge is keen as a razor, his preferred method of fighting being to disarm a for with the cutlass and then lay into the man with his hook.

12. False Colors
This pirate is not what he seems. In startling fashion this pirate is an agent of crown seeking to bring the current crew of pirates into custody or to pass along information on their workings. False colors works hard to look like a good honest pirate, but finds a way to avoid combat with the ships of his kingdom.

13. The Strangler
Never a good looser, this pirate is a giant of a man with a temper to match. He is the sergeant at arms and the whipsman of the captain. In combat with other crews or victims, this brutal giant likes to crush men’s throats with his bare hands.

14. Swabby
Long in the tooth and grey-headed, Swabby has been on pirate ships since he was boy. He spends most of his time as an assistant or simply swabbing the decks to avoid getting the harder work that often falls on younger pirates tossing dice. Swabby is a good pirate, but doesn’t trust the Cookie John.

15. The Cabin Boy
FResh from the shore, this youth has yet to see his first boarding action, take his first wound, or kill his first man. For that matter he’s yet to take his first wench. One day he might make a good pirate, until then he has to bow to all of the other crewmen and do anything he’s told.

16. The Privateer
A professional pirate, this man was formerly endorsed by a king or crown to hunt the ships of a rival power. He and his ship eventually fell out of favor and were in their eyes, betrayed by the crown. Instead of being heroes, they became the worst of criminals and could only find refuge scattered aboard true pirate ships.

17. The Buccaneer
Why be a pirate? Because it’s fun. When the blood is spilling, cannons blasting, wenches in yer lap and rum in your blood. It’s a jolly good time being a good pirate, and if you have to do a few things that you don’t like…well that’s better than plowing a field, isn’t it?

18. The Swashbuckler
Clad in tight pants and white billowing shirt, this dashing pirate looks more like something out of a ballad. He is good with a sword, but holds very tight to the maritime codes and chivalry rather than true piracy. His actions are motivated by a desire to fight an ignoble ruling power, rather than to be a naughty good pirate.

19. Drunky
Why is the rum always gone? The best answer is that Drunky got into the ship’s larder and no one noticed. Considered a fair to useless pirate, Drunky validates himself with his drunken style of sword fighting and blind rage when he is tossed onto another ship without a bottle of rum.

20. Friend to Birds
This pirate can whistle to the birds and for some reason, the birds take notice. He often has a parrot or some other bird close at hand, and has a limited ability to communicate with them. Obviously this long timer of the crow’s nest refuses to eat his feathered friends.

21. Mermaid’s Husband
This pirate has some sort of odd trinket he claims came from his mermaid wife. It is likely a ring of shell or some other trinket or bauble. Oddly, this pirate is able to stay underwater far longer than he should. The trinket gives him the ability to breath underwater so long as he is true to his aquatic wife.

22. Sirenbait
This is an unlucky pirate, fresh from the shore who leans to close to the rails. When the kraken attacks, or the sirens call, he is the first in the water, screaming as he falls.

23. Grubby
Known as the dirtiest pirate alive, Grubby is short, fat, bald pirate with the temper of a wild boar and the eyesight to match. He swings a heavy club and has quite a collection of kill notches on it’s handle. First ashore, Grubby can drink like a fish and wench like a stud horse.

24. Stubby
As a poor pirate Stubby was cursed with small fingers, his ability to tie rope is laughable and his stature with a sword is mocked, though this midget is able to cause wicked problems for larger pirates with his throwing knives and small size.

25. Knubby
Knubby ain’t got no fingers on his right hand, lost em in a pistol explosion. This hasn’t stopped his game any, this pirate can juggle coins across his ruined knuckles, toss bones with skill and is a fair shot with a knife or a pistol.

26. Heckler
The worst of pirates, this man is a bottomless well of insults, degrading comments, and rude gestures. He has an opinion on everything, though most often said comment is ‘screw it blind and give me more rum’. Malcontents will rally around the Heckler, but most are fooled, not knowing that he is one of the captain’s best men, and plays at the loyal opposition ro prevent mutinies.

27. The Mutineer
This pirate has a secret, he plans on taking over the ship and becoming the new captain. He has few supporters and most everyone knows of his ambition. The captain knows too, and does a good job of keeping the would be mutineer busy with either vital jobs, or doing things that keep him isolated from others who might follow him.

28. The Lady
A Mad Lass, this lady pirate hold her own with cutlass and pistols to earn her place aboard a ship. No wench to be bounced on a knee, she demands her share of the loot, the rum, and has been seen wenching with the other pirates. Rather than unlucky, the crew considers her to be a lucky piece.

29. The Scallywag
This pirate scratches and has many sores. Perhaps he’s caught some bit of creepy-crawly from a dirty whore, or his hygiene is so bad he’s rotting from the outside. Regardless he smells as bad as Grubby and always has a runny nose or is spitting up bloody saliva.

30. The Seadog
some pirates live for the sea, and could not find a life as a fisherman or a merchant. These are the backbone of the pirate crews, salty seadogs who’ve seen their fair share of battles and can hold their rum.

1- Peace Keeper
This officer always keeps a cool head and can talk down even the most wacked out perp. He also manages to keep the diverse personalities of his squad from getting out of hand.

2- Driver
This officer used to be a race car driver. Now he drives a patrol vehicle… fast. In fact, he does everything fast. And he likes fast women. Do you see a trend?

3- Grandpa
This is the old timer, the most experienced field officer out there. He might be a little slower than he used to be, but he has decades of experience backing him up.

4- Billy the Kid
The officer is young and fast on the draw. He has the best handgun scores in the academy. However his temper and attitudes (shoot first, question later) will get him in constant trouble.

5- Captain Cautious
This officer will wait for backup and will only advance if fully equipped and briefed. Always errs on the side of caution. Not the most popular man on the force, as other get hurt while he is suiting up.

6- The Smile
Everyone’s friend. He is fun off duty, he is great on duty too.

7- Book
As in by the book. He knows the law and regulations. He is serious as a heart attack about everything.

8- Brains
This rookie is going to be a detective some day. He is smart, perceptive, and cunning.

9- Ninja-man
Hiding behind this clownish attitude is a man who can move as swift and silently as the wind, climb almost anything, and has more cool gadgets than a sharper image catalog. (Spends all his money of cool gear from the Police and Spy catalogs.) If someone has the tech toy checked out of the inventory, it is him. He runs the remote controlled spy bot, uses the infrared camera, and scans the radio lines.

10- Jock
This is the big man on the force. He is big, strong, and surpisingly fast. When the squad needs an intimidating figure, he is it.

11- Ace
He is the quiet laconic type. He is also the finest marksman on the force. He is good at climbing and getting into odd positions like Ninja-man, so he can snipe a target.

12- Beauty
Beauty is not exactly a classically pretty girl. She is a female body builder. She and Jock make a pretty impressive pair. Rumors are they are attached off hours, against department policy.

13- Psycho
While technically sane, this tiny wirery officer put off a totally insane vibe with odd looks, barks, and scruffy hair. People actually find him more scary and intimidating that jock.

14- ActionBoy
This young man fresh out of the academy thinks he is an action hero. He does extreme sports, knows judo, drives like a maniac, and throws himself into a party life.

15- Marine
He was once an Military Policeman on the toughest base in the Military. He looks and acts the part of a total Marine. He will also keep telling you stories about the time he did this, or when his partner and him did that.

16+17 Abbot and Costello
These two average cops are nearly attached at the hip. They have been partners for so long they finish each others sentences and know exactly what the other is doing. They also are constantly verbally sparring and cracking jokes.

18- Hard Ass
This officer takes a hard line against any infringement of the law. Like Book, he knows every rule. Unlike Book this one adds an acidic personality, demeaning remarks, and a serious dose of racial profiling.

19- Ex-Detective
He was once a detective, but a series of unfortunate incidents has him demoted back to patrol. He is cynical and bitter, but still devoted to the force. He helped bust Odd Man’s old partner and took him for pity’s sake.

20- Snoop
He is a plant for Internal Affairs. He is watching these people carefully looking for something that is wrong.

21- Retirement Guy
There is always one guy counting the days until his retirement. This is that guy. He is even not all that old, but he is striving to survive to his retirement.

22- Righteous Man
He is a good cop. He follows the rules. He cares about people. He can be a little self Righteous at times, but people put up with it.

23- The Odd Man Out
His partner was arrested for dealing drugs, taking bribes, and other illegal acts. He never participated and might of turned a blind eye to some of it. However, he is an honest cop who has to prove himself at every turn. Nobody trusts him except the Ex-Detective… to whom he is excessively loyal.

24- Kung Fu
He is the master of Asian Wisdom and Chinese butt kicking. And he is not even Asian. His partner, Brains is… and finds him slightly annoying.

25-Night
This man has a secret. He is dealing vigilante justice after hours. He is a mass murderer in their midsts.

26- Cowboy
He is the stereotypical western cowboy turned big city policeman, down to the hat and the twang.

27- K9
He is the guy with the big vicious dog that is actually pretty nice. He is also another well loved officer.

28- Bike
She is your bike cop. She is the fastest in pursuit on the force. Even when she ditches the bike, she can run like the wind.

29- Alphabet
He is ABCD - Acutely Bitter, Cynical, and Depressing. Chronically burned out, he is still on the force despite several negative psych reviews.

30- Cap
This watch commander. He has a parental view over his charges. He covers for them and they will do anything for him.

The Evangelist
Conversion is this priest’s game. He goes from town to town, land to land, spreading word of his god.

The Pardoner
A corrupt priest, he grants clients assurance to heaven for a price. He is hated by all but the hyper-superstitious, who see him as a savior.

The Preacher
This priest is known for his rousing sermons that impassion everyone, from peasant to prince. He is well-loved by all, though an ineffective administrator.

The Ascetic
A strict life of fasting and mortifications for this priest. He lives alone in the wilderness, though he occasionally grants pilgrims some mystical knowledge. He greatly distrusts society and civilization, seeing the monastic life as a truer vocation.

The Abbot
The leader of the local monastery, he is an excellent administrator and runs a tight ship. Some of the monks grumble that he is a taskmaster, but he more than gets the job done. He does not tolerate sloth or disrespect.

The What-a-Waste
He is dedicated to a life of celibacy, much to the disappointment of the local maidens. Young and handsome, he grants a few girls friendly flirtation, but he uses this as a lead-in to his gospels.

The Fresh
Fresh from the seminary, this young priest is naive about the ways of the world. He expects all his parishioners to be saints, and his superiors to be understanding leaders. He tries to keep up spirits, but is quickly exhausted by the real world.

The Theologian
A philosopher as well as a priest, he focuses on the reasoned science of the gods. He can be somewhat aloof and his sermons are over the heads of most.

The Reformer
This priest sees that the times are a-changing, and he thinks the church should too. He is quick to champion the latest trends as revelations for liturgy, and dismisses any tradition older than 50 years. He may have once been a revolutionary, but now his cries for change are stale and fall on bored, deaf ears.

The Antiquarian
Obsessed with tradition, this priest follows all the old ways just because they’re old. The Theologian points out that many of his “traditions” are theologically unsound or even not that old, but the Antiquarian bites back that he is a heathen modernist. He demands a revival of the ancient faith, but he has done it so long and so blindly that he sounds as empty as the Reformer.

The Dogmatist
A strict interpreter of scripture, this priest decries most things outside of the temple as sins, and some things inside. He publicly forsakes all the sinners he sees, and is often taunted by youths who engage him in shouting matches. He is quite easily offended, but somewhat considerate of those who admit he is right on some level.

The Reliquist
This priest has an obsession with the relics of saints. He trades various items of veneration, many of which are fakes (though his faith causes him to ignore this fact). He has extensive knowledge of saints and history.

The Monk
With his simple habit and marks of poverty, this priest is the archetype of monasticism. He works, prays, and does little else. He is not judgemental of the world as the Ascetic is, but prays for justice and peace throughout.

The Martinet
This priest has never actually served in any military position, though you couldn’t tell by looking at him. He runs a tight parish, and expects the congregation to be strictly disciplined in liturgies. When he tells young people to strongly consider the religious life, he’s not merely making suggestions.

The Mediator
When conflict arises, this priest is on the spot to make peace. He is persuasive and perceptive, able to interpret subtle body language when negotiating harmony. Many couples also seek him out as a marriage counselor.

The Troublemaker
This priest is well-known for his public condemnation of the king’s corruption. He is an advocate for the people, much to the chagrin of the nobility. The king has made note of this troublesome priest, and some say he is one sermon away from becoming a martyr.

The Puppet
The opposite of the Troublemaker, this priest is the mouthpiece of the nobility. He decries peasant revolt as heretical and emphasizes the loving and godly nature of the king. He is paid handsomely by the royal court, though he hides it to not appear so much a marionette.

The Joyful
Praise be the gods! This priest is filled with the zeal and happiness that faith brings, and he expresses it to all the congregation. His jubilant rantings can wear thin, but they are welcomed in hard times.

The Somber
In contrast to the Joyful, this priest is focused on the depravity of the world and the ever-looming fear of apocalypse. He is so depressed he rarely bothers evangelizing sinners, seeing them as hopeless anyway, or preaching to the congregation, which mostly knows the faith anyway. He spends his days sighing out prayers half-heartedly.

The Drunkard
Found more often in the tavern than the chapel, this priest is cursed by a dark event that happened decades ago; his only solace seems to be found at the bottom of an ale bottle. He is kindly and will give you the shirt off his back, but he leads a sad life and is an unreliable pastor. His congregation feels pity for him, though the bishop is thinking of sacking him for his inability to run his post.

The Presbyter
To him, divine authority is more important than anything else. He is a close follower of the archbishop and chastises any that disagree with him. He keeps his temple closely tied to the letter of the law, making a good administrator when he is not tied up in red tape.

The Paladin
A veteran priest of the crusades, he has returned to his hometown to settle down and start a church. He regales everyone with his war stories and tales of divine intervention, and his congregation follow him like a loyal army. He is amiable, but has a mean streak when parishioners step out of line.

The Ecumenist
This priest wonders why can’t we all just get along. Though his faith conflicts with several others, he embraces them as brothers and encourages his congregation to do the same. His theology tends to be lousy and he sometimes fails to get much accomplished, bogged down with the spirit of unity.

The Merciful
He has turned his luxurious rectory into a home for the down and out. This priest tends to the sick and poor, offering words of hope to anyone who will listen. Some say he is gullible, as he lets well-known thieves sleep in his quarters, but others say it is a sign of trust no one else would afford such folk.

The Betrayer
He is a respected priest by day, but at night he makes heathen sacrifices to a weird god as part of a secret society. No one suspects him of his misdeeds, and he is quite proud of that.

The Heterodox
He was once as respected as the Theologian, but his views gradually changed into something drastically different from the orthodoxy of faith. He leads a small sect who believe his ideas make more sense than the standard religion. This priest has been anathemized by the bishops, but helps to maintain a balance by contrasting traditionalists and far-wing conservative theologians.

The Librarian
Need to know the name of that one priest at St. Chagram’s, the details of the Cherubic Order’s habit styles, or who wrote the Treatise of Jeyru? This priest has the answers. He maintains an extensive library at his temple and is happy to share his knowledge with those who seek it. His homilies, though, tend to be long-winded and exhaustingly boring.

The Choir Master
This priest loves to sing, from folk ballads to high opera. His specialty is hymns, of course, and his liturgies are often sung rather than spoken.

The Exorcist
Holy water always at the ready, this priest is known throughout the land as the bane of demons. He is a wise demonologist, and can identify possession with ease. He is gruff for a priest, hardened by the minions of hell.

The Alarmist
This priest is extremely skilled at identifying demons and possession… or so he thinks. He tends to see the Enemy in a lot of things, from bad crops to political corruption to the common cold. He is in constant correspondence with the Exorcist, much to the latter’s chagrin; the Exorcist tries to educate him in proper demonology, but the Alarmist can’t quite get over his anxiety about devils.

A standard fairy tale prince, he is brave, strong, highly attractive, and not terribly bright. Given to the adventuring life, he is trying to rescue his chosen princess from whatever danger she is inevitably in so they might live happily ever after.

2. Prince Alard

Alard is the only son of a bitter and harsh king, and spends most of his time away from the almost-empty castle. A disappointment to his father and ignored by his lady love, he is prone to heroic pursuits, as an attempt to earn someone’s approval. Courageous and honorable, he is also very lonely.

3. Prince Cyril

This fellow is bookish and given to philosopy and bouts of morbid depression. After the death of his father and the subsequent remarriage of his mother, his already unbalanced mental state has degraded; he has developed an obsession with ghosts and death, and if not watched properly, could do himself (or others) harm.

4. Prince Nabil

The Merchant Prince is not technically royalty, but is generally accepted as such. His father is the master of an important trade monopoly, and the prince himself is a shrewd trader. With his money and his connections, it would not surprise many if he were to wed into royalty, and become a prince in truth.

5. Prince Hakon

For one reason or another, Hakon was lost as a small child- either kidnapped, or separated from his family by some disaster. He has no idea of his true heritage, and his family has thus-far been unable to locate him. However, it is not impossible that someone has discovered his identity, and does not wish him to claim his birthright.

6. Prince Jarlath

Poor Prince Jarlath is still young, and no where near ready to assume power. It’s just as well; he is kept so busy running pointless and deeply silly errands for his (probably insane) father that he hasn’t got the time to do much else. He’s a little frightened of his father, but mostly does as he’s told to humor the old man.

7. Prince Raj

Raj is a skilled sailor and rather adventurous. He will enthusiastically to risk his own life in order to improve the lot of his people (to the eternal worry of his father). Despite his tendency towards risky behavior, he is reasonably clever and usually has a plan of sorts. He will make a good leader, once he settles down.

8. Prince Arjuna

Arjuna has a secret: "he" is actually "she". She is the only child of a king in ill health, and conceals her gender to prevent conniving advisors and nobles from trying to manipulate and use her. She developed the habit as a child because she was presented to the court as a boy, and has carried the charade off ever since. She doesn’t really think of herself as a girl, and fortunately doesn’t have much of a figure to hide.

9. Prince Dmitri

Dmitri is remarkably compassionate for a prince, and cannot help but try to protect those weaker than himself. He will instantly leap to the defense of anyone in trouble without a thought for his own safety, much to the irritation of his guardians. He is a skilled warrior, and not unfamiliar with magic.

10. Prince Abidan

Abidan was, originally, an arrogant and fool-hardy man, who was given a position of command in his father’s army. Through his own poor judgement, the prince brought his kingdom to ruin. The shock of the experience greatly matured him. Now he is more or less in exile, trying to find a way to undo the damage and make amends.

11. Prince Fremont

For one reason or another (possibly as a result of his own actions), Fremont is under a nasty curse. It has made him moody and belligerent, and he often lashes out at people in a fit of temper. While those closest to him know of the curse and pity him, the general populace does not know and regards him as something of a monster.

12. Prince Ludlow

Ludlow is the youngest of four sons. His brothers all are better qualified to assume the throne when their father dies, and have better claims on it than he. He has no serious expectations, and spends his time hunting, fishing, and riding, and generally ignoring princely duties all together.

13. Prince Albrecht

Albrecht is a cold, cruel, arrogant man, accustomed to getting his own way in all matters. Those who stand between him and what he wants soon find themselves dead, or wish they were. He will stop at nothing to achieve his goals, and has a definite sadistic streak. He is an excellent hunter, and boasts that no quarry, man or beast, has ever escaped him.

14. Prince Fitzpatrick

Prince Fitzpatrick is something of a novelty among the well-born: he’s a confirmed adrenaline junkie. He finds life in the palace so inutterably dull that he takes up danger-sports to alleviate the monotony. The more likely he is to get killed, the better he likes it. He’s also discovered that his hobby has a way of keeping the court in a state of nervous tension, which is all to the better.

15. Prince Dominic

Although a grown (or mostly grown) man, Dominic has been coddled and "protected" by his neurotic mother his whole life. His friends and interests are carefully chosen by her, and she often forbids him from pursuing a particular course of action because it is "too dangerous." She has gone so far as to imagine illnesses that he has, despite what the court doctos say. He is very uncomfortable with his mother’s obsessive doting, but lacks the force of will to say so. He is very shy and submissive, and doesn’t know how to act around people he doesn’t know.

16. Prince Alfred

When Alfred was a small child, he suffered from a terrible fever. He survived his illness, but the damage was done. He is quite mad, and kept hidden away from people in a secluded wing of the castle. When encountered, he is usually babbling incoherently, talking to people no one else can see. Typically, he is docile, but does have periodic fits of rage, and is strong enough to seriously hurt someone.

17. Prince Thanos

Thanos is profoundly and vocally devout. The only problem is, the prince’s religion is something wildly different from the state religion. He often criticizes the current order, pointing out logical flaws or dogmatic inanities. He has said, loudly and often, that when he comes to the throne there will be a lot of changes, starting with completely revamping the priesthood. His views make many people, the clergy especially, very nervous.

18. Prince Sayed

According to him, Sayed has done it all and seen it all. He has fought monsters, rescued damsels, found legendary treasures, and seduced fairy queens. He has done everything that anyone else has done better. The truth is, he’s never set foot outside the royal park. His continual one-upsmanship irritates many people, and his boasting is at the core of many diplomatic tensions. No one’s challenged him yet, but it is uncertain how he will react when it happens.

19. Prince Ulman

Ulman is a dyed in the wool coward, to a point bordering on paranoia. He’s afraid of everything and anybody he doesn’t know (given his temperment, this includes almost everyone). He refuses to set foot outside for fear, and has been known to flee screaming from something as harmless as a spider. His actions embarass the whole court, particularly his family, and they consider it just as well that he mostly stays locked in his rooms.

20. Prince Herbert

To the eternal shame of his father (a bona-fide war hero), Herbert does not quite… measure up. His appearance and manner is a trifle effeminate, and his interests are even less manly. When the "real men" of the court are hunting or carousing, he would prefer to be painting or composing music. He prefers the company of the ladies of the court to that of the men, and can gossip as well as any of them. Herbert’s father has spent most of the boy’s life trying to find excuses to pack him off to distant relatives or allies so as to spare himself further humiliation.

21. Prince Nicolai

Nicolai is very sympathetic to the plight of those less fortunate than himself, which is, naturally, everyone. He has a habit of slipping out of the castle late at night, disguising himself as just another commoner. He then spends a good deal of time listening to what the peasants have to say, their complaints and their desires. When he returns to the castle, he tries to nudge royal law to accommodate what he hears. Sometimes he gets his way, sometimes not.

22. Prince Mikael

This young man is king in all but name. His parents are either ill and bedridden, or dead, and the kingdom is politically unstable for one reason or another. Mikael spends most of his time frantically rushing around trying desperately to attend to the duties he is unprepared for. So far, he’s kept going from sheer momentum, but that can only last so long.

23. Prince Adon

He can have any woman he wants, and usually does. He is witty, charming, and dead sexy. At court, he is always surrounded by a dozen single ladies, who giggle and flirt with him and constantly jockey for position with each other. His personal magnetism keeps them distracted enough that they don’t openly fight amongst themselves in his presence, but there is a lot of cattiness and backstabbing when he’s not around. He’s the type that spends the night in a different bedroom every night, and never in his own.

24. Prince Oleg

Oleg is a smarmy, unpleasant man, constantly scheming against practically everyone else at the court. He was the second of three sons, but his two brothers died; one was poisoned at his nineteenth birthday feast, another was found stabbed to death in his rooms. The prince has not outright admitted his guilt, but then, he did not need to. He spends most of his time creating instabilities in the court (naturally in his favor) and waiting for his aging father to die.

25. Prince Tobias (Toby)

Toby is still a baby or a toddler; four years old at the most. However, his father suffers from a chronic illness, and his mother died when he was born. The prince has no other siblings or close cousins who could inherit, and he is expected to be a king before his next birthday. There is much competetion amongst various members of the court as to who will be Regent when the king passes away; the young prince is peacefully oblivious to the courtly intrigue, and wants only to play with his toys.

26. Prince Elias (and Prince Mica)

In a land where the king’s eldest son inherits the throne, the identical twins Elias and Mica pose something of a difficulty. Or they would, if they had not discovered as children that very few people can tell them apart. They have developed a habit of taking turns being Crown Prince Elias; while one attends to matters of the court and princely duties, the other is somewhere else quietly goofing off as Prince Mica. Most of the court knows the king has two sons; the twins have learned some minor skill at altering their appearances so as to keep their secret. They see no reason to change their ways when they ascend to the throne.

27. Prince Vladimir

Vladimir spent most of his adult life with the expectation that he would take the throne when his father died. He patiently waited. And waited. And waited. He is now well into middle-age, and his father is still tenaciously hanging on to life. The prince is extremely frustrated by this, particularly since there has been some talk among the advisors about how it might be better if they convinced the king to pass the crown to a younger heir, bypassing the prince entirely.

28. Prince Adir

Adir would have preferred to enter the priesthood; he has always been deeply religious, and considers the tenets of the faith to be unbreakable laws. However, his parents refused to allow him to become a priest, so he has contented himself with supporting the church and living his life as the faith decrees. He is seen as a saintly figure by other members of the religion, and there is some talk of canonizing him. If he ascends to the throne, he will be a staunch champion of the faith and will run the kingdom according to his religion.

29. Prince Padraic

Either as a diplomatic move, or because he was sent to live with distant relatives, Padraic was raised in a foreign kingdom. He has just recently returned to the land he was born in, but is a stranger. He speaks with an accent (if he speaks the language at all), he follows strange customs, and he has very little idea of the political situation. There is some talk that he feels more loyalty to his adopted country than this one, and he has been trying to create or strengthen diplomatic and commercial ties between the two. He doesn’t fit in at all, and he knows it.

30. Prince Odolf

Odolf was once a gifted athlete; he was strong, fast, and agile, and had his kingdom been at war with anyone, he would have made an excellent fighter. However, during a race with some of his friends, the prince’s horse was bitten by a snake, and rolled over him. He was crippled, almost entirely losing the ability to walk. Rather than becoming depressed over the loss of his physical abilites, he started developing his mental ones. He has found he enjoys studying, and is becoming something of a scholar.

1. Princess of Eagles
Proud and aloof, this princess has the makings of a great queen. Through her charisma, she has gathered a body of followers who are very loyal to her and will serve her even to death. It is said that it will take a great man to make a match for this peerless princess.

2. Princess of Cardinals
Always found wearing rubies and red silk, this princess has a temper of fire and a strong desire to be the center of attention. The servants bow deep to avoid her ire, and she expects instant servility from anyone lower ranking than herself.

3. Princess of Ptarmigans
Slightly dowdy, this plump princess favors white over any other color. She is bright and eager, always interested in the slightest bit of gossip. Many see her as an asset to the kingdom, to be sacrificed to a foreign prince to secure a bit of peace, good trade rights, or a stretch of contested land. The princess is painfully oblivious to her future of being married and shipped off to another royal court.

4. Princess of Pelicans
Intelligent and down to earth, this princess is hounded by the fact that many consider her to be homely and ungainly, her mouth to wide and looking more matronly than like a princess ought to. One day she will make an admirable and honored queen, but until then she faces forced politeness and snickering and rumor-mongering behind her back. She often find solace near water.

5. Princess of Parrots
This princess is known for the bright and garish dresses and hats that she loves to wear. She is also well known to repeat almost anytihng told to her, and as a result has a reputation for being a little lacking in wit. Despite her chirpy attitude she is often the butt of many mean spirited jokes.

6. Princess of Ravens
Bedecked in black, often deep in a thick book, this princess is dark and dangerously intelligent. In time, she will become a competent sorceress, and a cunning queen who could alternately lead her kingdom to greatness or into ruin. Compared to many princesses, she requires little maintenance and is prone to simply observe others around her.

7. Princess of Herons
This princess is known for being graceful and for being nearly as tall as a man. Her best attributes are her long legs which she has shown a bit of in public, creating a bit of scandal. She is also good spirited and can be mischievious and cunning when she finds something that she wants. She also has a keen eye for patterns and details that others often miss.

8. Princess of Starlings
This princess has a loud disposition that comes from her small stature. She is a good handspan shorter than other women her age and makes up for it in sheer volumn. Her dresses are large, her baggage is large, and her retinue of hangers on is equally large. When she crosses her arms and sticks out her jaw there is going to be a fight.

9. Princess of Roadrunners
Athletic and thin, this princess enjoys physical activities and sports with a zeal that is generally associated with commoners. Nobles are supposed to be calm and aloof, not dripping with sweat after climbing a mountain in a race. She enjoys a strong popularity with adventurers and explorers.

10. Princess of Doves
Often seen as being meek as milk, or mild as rosewater, this princess is an adamant opponent to warfare. She would rather see the kingdom prosper through trade and good management rather than by blood, swords, and conquest. She is favored by the clergy, but lacks the support of the glory hungry military.

11. Princess of Hawks
Fierce eyed and hungry, this princess dreams of wearing a sword and riding into battle as a sister to spears. not one for frilly dresses and courtly finery, she is more at home atop a horse, or riding incognito at tournament. A constant handful, many hope that marriage will cool her head and make her more manageable.

12. Princess of Bluejays
Looking dignified in sapphire and blue linen, this princess is calm and logical, fascinated with the minutae of leadership and has many friends and colleges among the merchant guilds. While intelligent and witty, she has a slight problem of focusing too much on a single facet of something, often overlooking the bigger picture.

13. Princess of Pheasants
Boisterous and loud, the princess isa fan of bards and minstrels. She knows many of the songs and can play some of them well. Her parents are often put off by her insistence on Bohemian dress in plain cotton, and wearing dyed bone beads in her hair. They hope that their very down to earth daughter will eventually quit playing in the commoner’s mud. She is popular among the masses.

14. Princess of Seagulls
Unlike the Osprey, this princess loves being close to the sea, though not on it. She favors lover’s points that overlook the ocean, and is none to shy about pining for her Prince Charming to come and sweep her off of her feet. Unfortunately for her, few princes are out on the bluffs, rather they ride in tournaments and tend to avoid the syrupy romantic ballads of the bards.

15. Princess of Myna Birds
Always dressed in colors of mourning, this princess is macabre and droll. Her favorite epics revolve around necromancers and trysts with the dead. She paints her face white and repeats the doom laden lyrics of poet’s bleak tales and suicide poems composed ages ago. Many hope that the princess will come out of her mourning for her departed (insert family member)

16. Princess of Crows
Fascinated by the arts of war and the brave and valiant soldiers who carry the sword and banner, this princess is commonly found near the proving grounds or the barracks. She knows much about romanticized warfare and tales of battle excite her greatly. A few of the older, wiser soldiers worry that when she assumes power that they could be looking at a series of battles and wars just for her morbid entertainment.

17. Princess of Storks
Percieved as gangly and sometimes lacking in grace, this princess dreams of nothing more than becoming a mother. Her Prince Charming will of course provide her with 8 or more children, but until then she must content herself with the children of others, watching them and cooing over them. She is also known for wearing nothing but white dresses.

18. Princess of Hummingbirds
Sometimes known as the Petite Princess, this lady is a bundle of energy wrapped in bright colored silks. She is an avid keeper of flowers, growing rare and exotic species in her private garden, as well as keeping a beehive for her own honey. She speaks seldomly, and when she does it is very short and soft spoken.

19. Princess of Sandpipers
Long walks along the beach are a daily part of this princess, who by luck lives near the ocean. Some whisper of a lost love on the sea, others a yearning to travel, others know that she has a weakness for fresh shellfish that can be found in the sands, as well as being away from the claustrophobic nightmare of the royal court and chambers.

20. Princess of Albatrosses
Also known as the lady of bad luck, this princess breaks mirrors, spills salt, crosses the paths of black cats and every other superstition known to man. She remains perfectly safe, but the bad luck falls around her like rain. Few are willing to be around her for too long, afraid that her bad luck will rub off on them.

21. Princess of Osprey
Born with salt water in her veins, this princess loves the sea, and wears the colors of slate gray and sea green when she can. She is more at home on the deck of a sailing ship than sitting on a plush sopha. This princess is well versed in sailing terms and matters of running and crewing a ship, and is alternately favored by the maritime communities.

22. Princess of Mockingbirds
Outwardly prim and proper, this princess has associates of the larcenous persuasion. Few would guess that the princess herself is a member of the thieves guild and sits at the right hand of the Guildmaster himself. Only the cold calculation of her grey eyes sets her apart from the appearance of the typical princess.

23. Princess of Ducks
Always talking, this princess is a lover of rivers and ponds. She can be found a the lakefront gazebo, or riding in a white gondola on the lake. her clothing ranges from common whites to a riot of colors suitable for the House of the Duck and any other house of such repute.

24. Princess of Kingfishers
Small and easily overlooked, this princess is cunning in the matters of spies and statecraft. Many a spy in the court has fallen to her without ever knowing that the second to the King’s spymaster is his own daughter.

25. Princess of Parrakeets
Also known as Princess of no consequence, this Princess is the third of three daughters and has been left far from the spotlight of the court. Some expect her to be bandied off to a knight for valiant deeds, sent packing to a convent, or even given some pointless appointment in a small and powerless kingdom.

26. Princess of Vultures
The dead hold a cold allure for this lady, and she is often found among such paraphenalia. Many think her to be sympathetic and sentimental, though in truth she is drawn to the suffering of others as it masques her own troubles. she has no qualms about touching a corpse, and may one day find a place as a closet necromancer for her morbidity.

27. Princess of Swans
Eldest daughter of a widowed King, this Princess is already a queen in everything but name. She grew up as a gangly and awkward youth and has since adapted to take up as many of her late mother’s duties. The populace expect a good marriage for her, not to be shipped off to some foreign court, married to some distant noble.

28. Princess of Sparrows
To many, a princess is a princess. This lady manages to hit all of the averages, being the typical fantasy princess/damsel in distress.

29. Princess of Peahens
A clotheshorse, this princess is never seen in anything not dripping with jewels or lace. Her dresses are the finest silk, her seamstress and tailors are the best in the kingdom. She is petulant, demanding, and is more upset by a mud stain on her dress than by the actions of a serial murderer.

30. Princess of Penguins
While most will scurry to the fireside, this princess dons a dark coat and steps out into the cold. Winter is her favored season and she loves games of snow and sculptures of ice. During the summer, many comment that she appears wilted.

He was sent down several years ago for a violent robbery and has since become almost a guard himself. He is the one who makes the wardens tea, is not often locked in his cell, and does many of the small jobs in the prison. He is disliked by many of the other prisoners but not all of them, and he can certainly handle himself well in a fight, so to an extent they respect him for that.

The Steve McQueen.

Escaped, recaptured, escaped, recaptured, this prisoner is a master of escape, and is no doubt planning on how to get out of this prison as well. Popular with the majority of the other prisoners, because he would never inform on anybody else and is a likeable person. His crime was bank robbery but noone was physicly injured in the robbery that he committed. He would have served his term years ago if it were not for the extra time added on for his failed escapes. He hates prison officers even more then most prisoners do.

The Mother’s Boy

This prisoner spent the first two days crying for his mother. His hair is matted with dirt because he cannot wash it himself and many of the other prisoners beat and bully him. He bitterly regrets the day that he pulled a knife on his ex girlfriend in full view of several witnesses who got involved and saved her life, Sometimes he wishes that he had been successful as then he would have been hanged, which he sees as much better then the hell that his life as become.

The Dead Man Walking

This prisoner was caught acting suspiciously by a police officer, and in the struggle that followed the officer was stabbed and died of his wounds. For the crime, he was sentenced to death, and sits in his cell with two prison officers who watch him night and day to prevent him committing suicide or attempting to escape. They are careful not to provoke him because he has nothing to lose. He is terrified of facing the hangman, and often talks of his family, who he greatly misses. He would do anything to escape.

The Sex Case

This perverted prisoner raped a child, and is hated for it by all the prisoners and warders alike. He spends twenty-three hours a day in his cell except when he is taken out to exercise in a small walled courtyard. He hates everybody else there. The warders spit in his food and the other prisoners threaten him with a beating whenever they see him. And yet to look at him you would not think that he is any different to you or me if he were not in prison uniform.

The Witness

This man spent nearly twenty years in organized crime, robbing, cheating and murdering his way to the post of underboss of the Lorcano crime family. When at last he committed one murder too many and knew he would face the hangman, he made a deal with the government-he would inform on his boss and all his partners in organized crime, in exchange for being set free and given a new identity to protect him from being murdered. The government agreed but has kept him in prison until the trial of his boss starts in a few days. His cell is right next to that of the Sex Case, which annoys him a great deal.

The Hard Case

This prisoner’s back is scarred from the lashes of the whip, because of the many times he has hit prison officers or chucked the contents of his chamber pot at them. He has fought with other prisoners too but reserves most of his hate for the prison staff. H e has at various times been flogged, beaten, left in a straitjacket for days and put in a dark cell with no light, but it has not broken him. His orginal crime that put him here was that of attacking a policeman.

The Good

This prisoner insists that he is innocent of his crimes, which were those of carrying an illegal weapon and drugs. The warden and the other prison officers hate him because of his hunger strikes, complaining and the time when he broke out onto the roof and stayed there for three days. The other prisoners either like him or don’t mind him. In fact he really is innocent but only he and the policemen who set him up know that.

The Bad

This prisoner committed his first crime at six years old and has broken the vast majority of the laws, both the silly and the sensible ones. The only two crimes that he will not commit are murder and rape, the first because he fears the threat of execution and the second because even he has some morals.

The Ugly

This prisoner made the mistake of pushing in front of the Hard Case in the dinner queue and was jugged a few days later. A jug of water was mixed with sugar and boiled, and then the contents were thrown in his face. His face is now horrifyingly scarred for life, a horrible pink and white blob.

The Mad

This prisoner is so crazy and dangerous that he is rarely allowed out of his cell, whilst he awaits transfer to a mental hospital. Not only did he strangle a little boy but the body was found by police nailed by the penis to a tree. Only his insanity spared him from the gallows. He is unlikely ever to be set free ever again.

The Lawyer.

Hated by the prison staff but greatly liked by the prisoners as they all benefit, this barrack-room lawyer helped to get rid of several of the unofficial punishments such as the “hole” where prisoners were locked up in the dark for days at a time. Many guards would like to beat him to a pulp, but because of press attention and the support that he has from the other prisoners, they can’t. He knows exactly what he can and can’t get away with and never crosses that line.

The Undercover

On the surface a sex case as well, but in fact an undercover policeman with several years experience. He is attempting to trick information out of the Sex Case, which will lead to the location of a murder victim’s body so that the Sex Case can be charged with murder and hanged. He detests his assignment but thinks it is the only way to bring the Sex Case to justice.

The Fixer

This man can…for a price paid up front, arrange for mobile phones, drugs, forbidden food, extra prison pillows, shanks and even escape tools to be smuggled into prison through a corrupt guard. He has been here a long time. He was sentenced to death for murder decades ago but reprieved.

The Biker

On the outside a leading full-patch member of an outlaw biker gang until he committed one too many crimes even for him to get away with. He is quiet, doing his time, but very few of the prisoners would start a fight with him because they know what he can be capable of if angered. He just wants to be out so he can ride again.

The Thug

Enormously violent both on the outside and when he can get away with it, on the inside too. Known as “Mr F***em-up” because if he does not like somebody for some reason, he f***s them up. Will attack almost everybody regardless of how strong or weak they are. He is a close friend of the Hard Case, and thuggish though he is, if he becomes a close friend of somebody he will do all he can for that person as long as that person repays the favour.

The Spy

Convicted or giving information about top-secret weapons systems to the country’s enemies, he got a thirty year prison sentence but does not expect to serve more then a sixth of his time, as spy swaps are common and sooner or later he will be swapped for a spy that has been captured by the country who he serves. Keeps a very low profile just to keep out of trouble with the prison officers and the other convicts.

The Fraudster

This person earned a five-year stretch for selling land to people. The land was genuine and his to sell, but what he did not tell the buyers was that the land had no planning permission and would probably never would get planning permission in a hundred years. A likeable man, but few amongst the other convicts would trust him with anything of value.

The Spammer.

He was imprisoned after spamming one million computer users with Viagra spams. This person has no sense of honour at all and would do almost anything to make money. He plans to spam again once he gets out of prison. Everyone thinks him nerdy.

The Vigilante

A member of the secretive and hated White Knights, he was jailed for taking part in a series of violent assaults on alleged criminals. Like the Sex Case, he is friendless and hated by all the other prisoners. The Thug has privately vowed to smash his head in if he can. Unlike the Sex Case, not all of the prison guards dislike him-there are a few who think that he was only doing the right thing. Unknown to anybody else, one of the prison guards is a member of his White Knights cell, who respects him for not naming names of other Knights, and does what he can to make his stay in solitary confinement not as bad as it could be.

The Old Man

This old, white haired convict has spent sixty of his last eighty years in and out of prison for a string of offences, most of them relatively minor. Because of his age and the fact that he keeps his head down, neither the guards nor the rest of the other prisoners harm him. He has got so used to prison life that he has become institutionalised and can no longer function in the world outside prison-within days or weeks he normally breaks his parole conditions so that he gets locked up again.

Mr Whiskey

All this man’s crimes have been to do with alcohol-either stealing it, drinking it and driving or getting into fights after drinking too much of it. When sober he normally bitterly regrets what he has done, when drunk he becomes a violent maniac when off the road and a speed demon on it. Previous crimes have included fighting with police, swearing and drink driving. Recently he got a twelve-year sentence for manslaughter after he ran over a pedestrian when drunk. The pedestrian was using a zebra crossing at the time. He often barters away his cigarette ration for illegal moonshine booze-as he does not smoke that is not a problem for him.

The Binder

In most ways he is an honest man. He has never raped, robbed, murdered or indulged in drunken driving. The reason why he ended up in prison is because he likes to bind and gag women. Not to commit other crimes, just to kiss them on their foreheads and watch them struggle and scream through their gags. He got a sentence of between fifteen years to life. The other convicts are not too sure what to make of him-some treat him as a sex offender and have made it clear that they want nothing to do with him, others do not mind him since he never raped anybody.

The Santa

This man decided to play the Santa to his children, after having had a messy divorce from his wife. He brought a sackful of toys, dressed in a Santa suit, got a ladder and climbed onto the roof of his ex-wife’s house, and down the chimney. And got stuck. It cost quite a lot to get him out of the chimney, and that and the anger of his ex-wife got him three months in prison, a heavy fine and a non-contact order for when he gets out. He is a likeable fellow and even the Thug likes to talk with him.

The Druggie

This man, like many prisoners, is here after committing multiple thefts, even from his parents and friends, to support his drug habit. He is ugly, lazy, deceitful, and heartily disliked by the majority of people, except the Fixer from which he gets his illegal drugs. He would kill a prisoner or a prison guard if he were offered enough drugs.

The Boss

To look at him, he would seem a harmless and friendly fellow, but in fact he is the Boss of the Lorcano crime family, and has stolen, beaten, robbed and murdered his way to the top during more then half a century of criminal activity. The only crime he will not commit and considers totally foul is crimes against children. He knows that the Witness is in the same prison and is wondering how he can get him murdered before the trail. If convicted on the multiple counts of theft, racketeering and murder that he faces he faces either the hangman or at least life in prison.

The Protester

He threw a grenade at the President of the Central Committee in protest over high taxes, and got only ten years in prison as the assassination failed. He is a close friend of the Good, and the two are normally together unless they are in solitary confinement cells being punished. There are rumours that they are lovers, but the rumours are not true. They are the very best of friends together, agreeing with each other on nearly everything.

The Unlucky

Every crime he commits goes spectacularly wrong. He was honest until he found out that his wife was having an affair with the extremely tough owner of a pub. He hired a shotgun from a criminal gang, but shot at the wrong man and then got beaten up by the man’s friends. Handed over to the police, he got seven years in prison from the courts and a warning from the gang that they would be waiting for him when he got out.

Whilst in prison he decided to attack a sex offender but made the mistake of attacking a mobster instead, and he had to be moved to a new prison to save him from being murdered in retaliation. After four years in prison he got parole and was then badly beaten by the gang from which he borrowed the shotgun. When he got out of hospital his wife came back to him only to start another affair with his probation officer. He found out and complained, only to find himself recalled to prison. The Steve McQueen avoids him in case his escape plans get jinxed.

The Turbulent Priest

He was thrown into prison for one too many sermons attacking the government in violent terms, as well as being defrocked and excommunicated by his bishop, who was quick to avoid a confrontation with Church and State. He is friends with the Good, the Protester, the Ugly and the Santa and often comforts the Dead Man Walking, which the prison guards are happy about as it makes their job easier.

The Smuggler

He has smuggled people, endangered animals, jewels, alcohol and drugs, and sadly for him it was the latter offence that he was caught for, earning him a long sentence. He is popular with the other prisoners though as he has found a way to smuggle in all kinds of illegal items, with the help of the Fixer and some of his contacts on the outside, and a bribeable guard or two.

Prostitution is reckoned to be the oldest profession, and perhaps the most controversial. Prostitution is generally present in most generic fantasy settings, and ranges from official acceptance, the temples of the Goddess of love and fornication, down to being considered criminal and confined to the seediest of bars and brothels. This 30 assumes a setting where prostitution is allowed by the law, but those who work in the business are considered to be second class citizens, and there is a mild stigma attached to the men and rare women who patronize their services.

1. Laken, the Devoted of the Goddess
Into every game, a little lust must fall. To that end, Laken serves as temptation wrapped in silk and served on a silver platter. A ravishing blonde bombshell with long legs and a come hither stare that would leave a priest second-guessing his god, she is sex incarnate. This is fitting since Laken is first and foremost a cleric of the Goddess of Sex and Lust. A subordinate deity to the greater Goddess of Love, this secondary power is considered morally neutral at best and is frequently invoked by would be Lotharios and giggalos, as well as the infrequent prostitutes who embrace their profession with soul as well as body.

2. Fabiola, Scion of the Guild of the Lily
The epitome of the working girl, Fabiola is a chameleon of desire. She is witty and charismatic enough to quickly and quietly emulate her client’s desires, but remains emotionally detached from the entire affair. Much like a coal miner who hangs up his hat at the end of the shift and goes home to his family, Fabiola hangs up the fish-nets at daybreak and heads to a comfortable home she shares with her aged mother and ailing aunt. She is a member of the Prostitute’s guild and most whisper that she is only a few years away from being promoted to being a madam and possibly getting to sit on the council of guildmistresses.

3. Caliegh, Houri-Sorceress
Not all students who fail in their studies at the wizard’s school go on to spawn plans of world domination or settle down to become unassuming half-mages. Caliegh washed out of the school with a substancial amount of debt to the lenders guild who hoped to reap rewards from this promising young woman. The need for lots of gold and in fairly short amount of time had exploit her two most ready assets, her sex and her limited magical skill. Her charms include Enlarge Object, Reduce Sensation, and a wide variety of minor illusions. Years later, she has honed her skills to become a very high cost escort/sorceress who remains in steady demand for her ability to assume exotic appearances and seemingly magical ability to make her clients feel…special.

4. Kenzie of the Steel Bikini
Looking the part of a Boris Vallejo painting, Kenzie frequents a bikini consisting of chainmail, alternating with a plate steel corset. She has the hard musculature of a woman warrior and also has the sword to go along with it. Of course this is all flash and show, the sword is blunted so that no one gets hurt. Kenzie planned to join the mercenary guild years ago, but lacked the proper gear. After working on her bakc for a few years she purchased a good suit of metal armor and a real sword and a steel banded shield. However, her experiences with the battle scarred mercenaries and adventurers-upon-return that frequented the brothel left her with many second thoughts and armor that she could not hope to get a refund on.

5. Paige, Bard of the Brothel
Paige is a rarity among prostitutes that she has another job, she is a bard of some skill. Unfortunately, this lass has a weakness for making bad decisions over business ventures with handsome young men as well as gambling like there is no tomorrow. In the afternoons she strums her dulcimer and sings the standard array of tavern songs, ballads and when the sun goes down the bawdier songs. When the next row of entertainment comes in, she takes a few clients to the sheets for some coin. As far as most prostitutes go, Paige is considered a higher class lady as she is more educated and more difficult to intimidate or shortchange.

6. Dagmar, the Barbarian
Once a noble and proud woman from one of the free nomad peoples, Dagmar was isolated in the area and unable to return to her tribe. Her skills, once valuable to the tribe, are worthless to the settled folk of the town and she was forced into the one profession where no skill was required, just the proper equipment and submission. Bowed by years of humiliation and hard usage, she is showing more than her years. She is a capable fighter barehanded and with a bow, but barely speaks the common language and knows that she can work from her back or beg on the streets. The madam only charges half-price for Dagmar’s services.

7. Vilna, the Woodland Child
Born in the gutter, raised half wild, Vilna is a rare sort of druid whose home was the labyrinth of old streets and alleys, her beasts of the field were stray dogs, cats, and oversized rats. Surrounded by the burgeoning industry of a growing city, she is an urban primitive who eschews the labor and toil of the common folk. If she can do as she pleases, stalking among the alleys, avoiding the thieves, and living like a wolf-child, then the gold gained from the sweaty hands of hungry-eyed men is worth it. She stalks into the various brothels like a wolf hunting prey rather than a woman desperate for coin.

8. Herta, the Meek
Few men can resist the heart shaped face of Herta, her quiet demeanor, and the flush of shame that colors her cheeks as she endures their rough treatment. And it is shame that sets her aflame as she willingly submits to each client. Currently under penance for behavior bordering of heretically blasphemous, Herta was given the choice to accept punishment as a common whore for a year or be exiled from the clergy forever. Allowed to serve her penance away from her home parish, each night of sorid sex is one nigt closer to when she can return to the mother church. She wears a necklace of prayer beads that reminds her of her sin each time she joins with a man. She yearns for the day when she can cast it away.

9.Beatriz, Half-Elven
Few things sharpen a man’s lust quite like the prospect of caressing the ethereal beauty of she-elf flesh. Of course most patrons who give their coin to Beatriz are seldom sober enough to tell the difference between elf and half-elf. She favors what most consider to be proper elven style, and speaks a mongrel version of the elven tongue, enough to convince her clients that her services are worth the extra cost. Secretly, she hates everything elven, including her bastard elf-father who abandoned her and her mother years ago. She is smart enough to know that the elf gimmick pays the bills very well, but lacks the confidence to leave the brothel and take up another profession.

10. Idella, Half Size but twice as nice
An earthy halfling with a generous smile and a very unhalfling like libido, Idella can only be hired for an entire evening. The short woman can bustle with the best of them, treating her client to a bath, massage, a heavy meal, all intersperced with the naughty things that men spill their gold to purchase. Her best clients often suffer from intense insecurity, Oedipus complexes, or enjoy being waited on for every need or whim for an evening. Idella is popular with the other girls since she is a city-class chef in the kitchen as well as a bit of a mother figure and trainer for the newbies.

11. Odalis of the Green Skin
Orphaned as an infant during the fighting between men and orcs, this she-orc was raised by humans. She spent her childhood as a second class citizen of the city, equal parts bully and pariah. Once she hit puberty her orcish heritage exploded as she blossomed from a girl into a woman. While most find her visually unattractive (Orc-hating racists) few can deny the animal magnetism and raw sexuality that she exudes. She finds comfort in her profession because when she is naked with a human, she is the one in power. Her clients find her to be a powerful experience, as well as a frightening one. They generally leave her room with claw marks on their backs, bites on the shoulder that are bruised or even bloody and utterly drained.

12. Nashaly the Depraved
It is common for humans wishing to be more exotic to claim an elf in the family tree. It is not common for a demon to hold one of those branches, but that is just the case for Nashaly. Few knew that Grandfather Neurgon was actually a demon, but in her heart, in her tainted blood, in her smoldering loins, Nashaly knows. Nothing is to perverted or sadistic for this woman. No act is taboo, in fact the more depraved or debased an act is, the more she enjoys it in the moment and the more she loathes it afterwards. This tiefling is ruled by her basest of desires and her financial assets are substancial enough that she could easily quit and open her own business. It’s hard to quit a job that you love so viscerally.

13. Rayna, the Imposter
In truth, Rayna is actually an alias used by the eldest daughter of a very prudish noble family. This Princess secretly dons the attire of a prostitute and sells herself to any man with enough coin. Unlike the other working girls, Rayna likes her men to be big, hairy, muscular, and dripping with testosterone. The men of the court are to this day flabergasted over how such a woman remains immune to their dandy charm and eloquent turns of phrase. Eventually she will mature out of this rebellious phase, but for the time being, the Princess walks the streets like a cat in heat.

14. Jaden and Jaelyn
Lithe and exotic looking, Jaden and Jaelyn are identical twins who specialize in fulfilling threesomes. Originally acrobats in a traveling circus, the girls left the venue after it caught fire one night, burning down the main tent, killing half of the spectators as well as most of the cast and crew. Long the personal toys of the barker and ringmaster, stepping into the brothel meant they got paid for their services and gained a staggering amount of free time to lounge about, play games, and read old books. They dream of living on a farm with animals, but are wise enough to know that such a dream is unlikely for exotic beauties such as themselves. Still they laugh and dream of finding a man who would marry them both and take them away to raise birds and long eared goats.

15. Ulis, the White-Eyed
Some curses are worse than others, and few can compare with the curse that burns inside of Ulis. This winsome stripling of a girl was until a few months ago a strapping and boisterous knight with a taste for pillaging and a touch of rape. during an assault on a sorceress, the woman bespelled him and turned him into a frail and milk-blooded woman, the very thing he himself preyed upon. The curse will be lifted once he/she is vandalized once for every girl he stained with his touch. Somehow the most brutish of clients are drawn to the trembling girl who weeps at their slightest touch. He remembers the rush he felt when they trembled under his touch and his fear is so much the more. The nature of the curse renders Ulis unable to speak, write, or otherwise communicate it to another person.

16. Tarsha, Mistress of the Whip
If goth had a queen it would be Tarsha, she is statuesque, and pale as alabaster. She favors vivid red skin tight leather and has a dungeon that can only be explored by a solo adventurer, if you know what I mean. Inside her lair, their are implements of torture, macabre paintings and the rest of the dominatrix ensemble. Her clientele is as exceptional as it is secret, as in a darker age, those who love pleasure and pain go through great lengths to keep their tastes secret.

17. Afton, the Quiet Heart
Unlike the other prostitutes, Afton died years ago. Less than a century in the blood, Afton is a young vampire hiding in the Holde district plying her supernatural sensuality as well as her natural sexuality. Like flies drawn to a spider, her clients come to feel the deadly rapture of a vampire’s bite, but with the gold bought promise of their own safety but the bleeding edge thrill of embracing one of the undead willingly. On occasion she has an accident and leaves a client in a pool of their own cooling blood, but it is a risk she informs them of long before gold touches her palm or her lips touch their flesh.

18. Gaynell, the Temp
Living well outside of the city, Gaynell spends a week out of each month working at a certain brothel. The other three months she lives on a farm and works the fields and with the livestock. Her family believes that she is attending a school or apprenticeship in the city, not knowing that each week she spends about half of her gains on frippery and pretty boys and the the other half vanishes into a Usurer’s purse until she has enough gold to say goodbye forever to the farm and purchase her own patents of nobility. While most consider her naive at best, she is about 2/3rds of the way to getting the gold she needs to pay a local duke to have her initiated as a lesser baroness.

19. Mafalda the Enhanced
In a realm of magic, there are going to be cosmetic charms, and Mafalda has been the recipient of a good number of them. Now getting on into her late 40s, she has a magically enhanced bra size, as well as regular doses of weak anagathics and beauty preserving potions. After several years of this, she is starting to take on a bland and almost plastic appearance. Having been a career prostitute her whole life, she has long since determined her self worth but the cost of her services and the quality of her clients.

20. Plain Yosilen
The everywoman in the brothel, Yosilen comes from commoner roots and remains in the profession since it offers the best pay in respect to work involved. Neither especially pretty or abusably ugly, she represents the common prostitute and can be seen anywhere from doing laundry during the day, to working the tavern rooms in the late afternoon, to heavy business during the festivals.

21. Poor Willa
not every prostitute works under the aegis of the guild of the Lily, some are forced by various means to work independantly. Willa was expelled from the Guild after it was discovered that she had been stealing from the brothel she worked at for years. Divested of her stolen wealth and cast out of the guild, she was left to ply her trade alone on the street. Her clients take her in seedy alleys, unwatched corners in taverns, and if it is dark enough, on the street itself. Her rates are among the lowest, as it is the only way she can get any business. On top of that, she has to give more than half of what she earns to the thieve’s guild as protection money.

22. Guillermin, the Artist
In an age where most prostitutes have only two general positions (You want me on me back or on me knees honey?) Guillermin is educated in the variations and techniques of the Kama Sutra or it’s respective work in the setting. Exotic and hailing from a distant land, she knows things that most of her slightly less civilized and slightly more prudish clients have not even considered.

23. Raegan the Red
A pale skinned woman with hair the color of flame, Raegan hails from Zehin, though she doesnt have witch-blood in her veins. Most of her clients are drawn to either her fiery red hair, or her aura as being descended from witches. She seldom speaks to her clients as her thick local accent would immediately shatter the illusion of her being alien and exotic. Outside of the boudoir, Raegen is arrogant and considers men to be dogs fit only to be lead around by their leashes.

24. Keegan, the Scapegoat
Coming from the farm and a very stern and religious upbringing, Keegan discovered that she was a masochist while on a visit to the city. Running away from home later, she indulged her desire, becoming a whipping doll for the more exuberant clients at the brothel. The madam is always close at hand with a healing potion as sometimes the men with the whips and chains get out of hand. Now addicted to pain and healing potions, Keegan lives a life of hazed decadence while her family mourns, thinking her dead. One day they will be right.

25. Margot, the Teaser
Most men who solicit Margot are turned down, despite their offers. Margot only accepts a certain type of client, one who is looking for a certain kind of…woman. In truth Margot is really a man, one who dresses in womens clothing. this sint out of a love for women’s clothes but for the fact that certain men, especially influential and powerful ones want others to know that their tastes lean towards their own gender instead of the fairer sex. Margot’s disguise is a function of dress and carefully applied cantrips.

26. Tenille the Working Woman
Tenille is a busy woman, with scarcely an hour to herself. While she works the weekend shifts and occasional other shifts at the brothel, she also does work as a scullery maid. When not cleaning laundry or dirtying sheets, she regularly assists with the baked goods, and as a second rate seamstress. Most of her clients find her distracted, which is completely true as she is generally thinking about what she will be doing later in the evening or the next day. Her husband died a year ago, leaving her with six children and a substancial amount of debt to be paid off. One day, one day the brats will be out on their own and the guild will be paid off, so she tells herself each night as she passes out on the pillow.

27. Ceil, Maiden of the Veil
Her rates are very modest, she is able to bear any pain or shame that a man would inflict on her. Ceil, like Afton, is dead. Unlike Afton, Ceil is a ghost and only appears after sundown and never leaves her room. She has a special ability, drawing on the memories of her guests, she can reshape her appearance to look like another deceased woman, albeit pale and reserved. She waits, as she was killed in this very room by her lover who claimed to be immortal. One night he will return, and all of the grief and rage and pain she has absorbed from men weeping over their lost wives and loves will explode out of her and kill him in a way that no spell of blade can.

28. Ebba the Mad Lass
The stars always shine in Edda’s eyes, as years ago she was touched by one of the true fae and it’s touch lingered in her mind. She frollicks and laughs, seeing every man as a lvoer, every woman as a confidant, and every evening as a grand adventure. She is quite insane from her contact with the shapeless fae, but compared to the majority of those so damaged, she is largely harmless. In her dementia she considers herself a princess, the madam as the queen of the court and her clients as proud knights. As can be expected, the madam keeps all but a pittiance of her income, though Edda cares not.

29. Big Noelia
Now entering her late 40s, Noelia has reached a benchmark 200 pounds. Her price has been falling steadily for years as her wieght drifted higher and higher. Now her clients hail from the poorest of the poor and the daytime bargain hunters. She will soon become a madam, not from any personal skill, but because she is soon to be worthless as a prostitute but hasnt broken any guild statutes and cannot be expelled for being undesireable.

30. Belva the Ever-Beautiful
Entering into her late 60s, Belva has a figure that girls 1/3rd her age would kill to have. While her hair has since fades to a brilliant silver, there is hardly a line of age on her face and she remains as desireable as she was forty years ago. As an exemplar member of the guild, she is a standing guildsmistress as well as still working the sheets. There are no shortage of rumors to the source of her ageless vitality, ranging from elven blood, to a casque of genuine Elixer of Youth, to the truly bizarre. Belva just laughs and goes back to her task at hand, it is simply rude to ask a lady’s age.

Here are listed the 30 Rangers of the Bushlands National Park in Western Bathland.

The Ideal
This man longed to be a Ranger all his life and was estactic when he got the job.He is allways on duty even in the worst weather that nature can throw at him, and nothing scares him.Not the climate, not poachers, not wildlife run amock, not even his boss.

The Lazy
This man spends as much time lazing around as he can, working just enough not to be sacked,that is, when something really needs to be done or when his boss is around.He is most happy when in his bed, and is despised by most of his fellow Rangers.

The Warden
This man is very strict to the tourists, patrolling regularly to make sure that nobody goes off the paths, picks flowers, gets too close to wildlife or hot springs, sets fires, or smuggles weaponry into the Park. A real stickler for the Park rules, even the small ones.

The Office Man
Whilst not very hardy when out on patrol, he is very happy to do any amount of paperwork including the paperwork of other people, and is popular with other Rangers for this reason.When new animals/uniforms ect need to be ordered, he does it.

The Don Juan
This man privatly thinks he is God’s gift to women. Publicly of course he is allways polite and careful to treat them as equals, until he has sucessfully got them into his bed. Afterwards he dumps them and tells his fellow Rangers about his sex life.

The Poacher
This man has a double life. By day he protects the wildlife from poachers. By night he sometimes poaches himself and smuggles the skins, horns, ect, out of the Park in the back of his Ranger Jeep and blames the deaths on poachers.After all,who would suspect a Ranger of poaching?

The Doctor
This man knows the cure for almost every wound or disease that it is possible to get in the Park.He has saved the lives of several unlucky or careless tourists and one or two Rangers, and is respected and liked by everyone who he meets.

The Mercenary
This man is allways thinking up ways, legal and otherwise, of getting money, which range from setting up a pub within the park, to turning a blind eye to poaching for the right price. He is the richest of the Rangers but keeps his money well hidden.

The Informer
This man thinks nothing of “telling on” people for even the smallest offenses, and that includes telling on fellow Rangers. His only friend on the force is the Warden, and all the others dislike or despise him or both, but the Boss keeps him because he is useful.

The Unlucky
Whilst this man means well bad things often happen to him.Mosquitos bite him, diseases find him, wildlife charges at him, ect.
The Boss is considering “letting him go” for his own protection before he ends up dead.

The Dreamer
This man dreams of being something greater then a Ranger.
In his daydreams he is a policeman, a mage, a king, a superhero. He does not let his dreams get in the way of his work and is liked by his fellow Rangers, which is why he has kept his job.

The Messy
This man often turns up for work with his flies undone, his uniform dirty, his cap badge not clean. He does have a nice personality and is allways ready to do what is needed, which is why he was not sacked a long time ago.

The Fighter
This man is an expert in both armed and unarmed combat, and used to be a bouncer before he joined the Rangers. He has saved the life of a fellow Ranger at least once with his combat skills.Once when off duty four men attacked him and he managed to knock all four out.

The Detective
This man is good at finding missing people and bringing poachers to justice.He has solved several crimes,saved lives, and has earned the Star of Bathland (2nd Class) for uncovering a major ring of poachers and proving their guilt in court.

The Animal’s Friend
Whilst all Rangers are supposed to be good with animals, it is said of this man that he could charm a Giant Silversnake, a Giant Spider or a Wrapper into not attacking him.Animals with slight injuries have come up to him for help.

The Transsexual
This Ranger often dresses as a woman when off duty,and is worried about his secret getting out. He is kind and pleasent to both tourists and to his fellow Rangers. Once the Don Juan saw him en femme and tried to seduce him but was of course turned down.

The Singer
When not on duty he often sings in nightclubs and longs to become a famous pop star. His fellow Rangers tease him but like him, as until he hits the big time he is perectly happy to work as hard as they and face the same dangers as they do.

The Lunatic
When on duty he is is the model of a good Ranger. When off it he has been responsible for the murders of several women, and the police are slowly closing in on him.The Dectective privatly suspects that something is wrong with him but cannot prove it.

The Work-To-Rule
The Boss loathes this Ranger because he does the bare minimum that he can get away with, never doing overtime or anything that is not in his job description. The Boss wants to sack him, but does not want to end up paying hefty compensation.

The Itchy
He is a hard worker and popular, but this Ranger’s skin is covered with scars from where he has picked open mosquito bites.He dreads getting jock itch, and his fellow Rangers have privatly decided to bind and gag him for his own good if he ever catches chickenpox.

The Right Winger
Whilst a capable Ranger, all his fellow Rangers avoid talking politics with him, because he is a member of the small far right and racist White Pople’s Party. The Boss has warned him more then once that any racist behaviour on the job will get him fired.

The Joker
This Ranger likes playing jokes on his fellow Rangers and the general public alike, a few of which have been highly dangerous, such as switching signs and putting itching powder down Itchy’s back. So far he has avoided being caught and sacked.

The Presidental Supporter
This Ranger loves talking politics and supports the President of the Central Committee to an unhealthy degree. He has a picture of the President hanging above his bed. Most Rangers tell him to shut up when he starts talking politics.

The Protected Witness
This Ranger has a big secret.It was his evidence that convicted three members of the Tens skycutter gang to 99 years in prison for murder.The Bathlandic Witness Protection scheme sent him from Old London Town to the Bushlands and found him this job.His biggest fear is that the Tens will track him down one day and kill him.

The Super Hero
This Ranger is the opposite of the Work-To-Rule and works harder even then the Ideal.He has been praised by the Boss and has been given higher pay and the rank of Corperal for his devotion to duty.Many of his fellow Rangers think that he makes them look lazy.

The Left Winger
This Ranger dreams of organizing strikes for more pay and is a member of the Rangers and Gamekeepers Union, and a good friend of the Work-To-Rule.The Boss hates him but knows that to dismiss him might cause a strike.

The Drill Instructor
He is a Sargent in the Rangers and used to be a Seargent in the famous Red Beret Regiment.He despises the Itchy, hates the Work to Rule and spends a lot of his time shouting and screaming at the tourists and his fellow Rangers alike.

The Smart
Always smart, his cap badge shines and his clothes are freshly pressed every day.Another ex army man, he wants to get promotion and is secretly jealous of his superiors.He hates getting dirty for any reason.

The Plain
Known as “Mr Normal” and popular with most Rangers, he neither skives off nor works so hard that the other Rangers seem lazy.He keeps his political and personal opions to himself.

The Boss
He is always under stress, needing to keep the Park in good condition and it’s animals protected.He is a Ranger Captain with 30 years experience in the force and is one of the most skilled Rangers on the planet.

A sailor for thirty years, he worked his way up through the ranks, and so, whilst a stern disciplinarian, he genuinely cares for the lives of his crew. He has sailed in every major ocean and knows all kinds of things about the sea. He hates ordering and witnessing floggings, but he believes that it is the only way to make sure his crew behave themselves and knuckle down. Most of the crew respect him although they don’t exactly like him much.

2-The Boson

Twenty years at sea, he is a bit of a Captain Bligh type, with a low tolerance for slackers, those who disobey orders and landsmen. Quick to punish with the rope’s end, and disliked by most of the crew.

3-The Superstitious

This sailor is good at his job but he believes in all the tales of the sea. When not on duty or asleep in his hammock, he can often be found below decks telling scary stories of ghost ships, malicious Mermaids, Giant Krakens and huge whirlpools. Most of his fellow crewmembers like him and find his tales entertaining, but one or two of them get scared at times. He rarely smiles.

4-The Don Juan

This sailor is one of those with a “girl in every port”. As soon as he gets leave, he is on his way to find females. He is always polite and kind to them until they fall in love with him and let him have sex with them. Then one night he creeps out of bed, and by the time the girl wakes up, her loved one is sailing out of the port. He has no shame and enjoys telling the other members of the crew about his sex life, and many of them envy him. He was once tied to the mast and given fifteen lashes for trying to smuggle a girlfriend on board dressed up as a male.

5-The Pressed Man

This sailor is the only one on board who would much rather not be there at all. He was kidnapped after a rival in love who wanted him out of the way paid the Captain a hefty sum. He is seasick frequently, hates the sea, dislikes most of the crew and has been flogged twice, and only the threat of the cat-o-nine-tails or worse keeps him doing his duties. At night he often weeps quietly, missing his loved one and his life at home on land. His only friend amongst the crew is the Would Be Mutineer.

6-The Would Be Mutineer.

On the surface he is a good & well behaved man who only once got into trouble for stealing the Captain’s fruit from his cabin, for which he was punished with twenty-five lashes and a week’s stoppage of pay. However, secretly he hates the Captain bitterly for ordering him flogged and the Boson for doing it, too the point where he wishes he could lead a mutiny, have both men killed and thrown overboard, and start a new life as a pirate.

He is well aware of the penalty for mutiny, hanging from the yardarm, and he knows that most of the crew like or at least respect the Captain, so he is very careful whom he will confide in. So far he has only persuaded the Pressed Man to join him by promising him his freedom afterwards, but he knows he needs at least nine more men to join him before he can start his well-planned mutiny.

7-The Hero

This man never complains even when the going is at his roughest, always seems to be cheerful, always does whatever he is told and has contempt for the weather. He is one of the few crew members that is a firm friend of the Boson and the Thrill Seeker. The Would Be Mutineer dislikes him, as he knows that he knows that he would never agree to become a mutineer and pirate as that would go against his nature. He despises the Drunkard, dislikes the Pressed Man and does not think much of the Gambler.

8-The Musician

This man was a good sailor and enjoyed his job greatly until during a storm he fell from the rigging and broke his ankle. The Surgeon managed to splint it but it got infected and had to be sawed off to save his life and replaced by a wooden one. Unable to climb the rigging anymore, he begged to be allowed to stay on, and has he was good and singing and playing instruments became the ship’s Musician. He’s a friendly outgoing person and most of the crew like him.

9-The Ambitious

This man tries hard at everything because he wants the Captain and the Boson to like him. He dreams of one day being a Captain in his own right and longs for promotion, but several of his fellow crew dislike him as they see him as making them look lazy compared to him. The Would Be Mutineer is thinking about trying to get him to join in a mutiny by promising to make him his second in command.

10-The Gambler

This man is very good at gambling and is not popular with those who have lost part of their pay to him. There are those who suspect him of cheating, but they can’t prove it and he is ready to start a brawl with anybody, no matter how tough, who dares to accuse him. He worships a goddess of luck and has a small idol of her by his hammock.

11-The Surgeon

One of those few who almost everyone likes, he is hardworking, skilled and trusted, and always does the best he can. The Musician has a grudge against him as he thinks that he did not try hard enough to save his leg.

13-The Murderer

This man has a secret-he joined the crew to escape justice after murdering his boss after he got sacked from his earlier job. He lives in fear that one day he will be found out and handed back to face a trial for his life and a hanging if convicted. If the Would Be Mutineer ever found this out he would try and get him to help him in his mutiny.

14-The Jonah

Small unlucky things happen to him. He trips over ropes, he farts at exactly the wrong time, he is the one in the lookout’s tower when a hurricane comes ect. The Superstitious greatly dislikes him and wants him put ashore.

15-The Drunken Sailor

Not an alcoholic as such but if he starts drinking alcohol he often does not know when to stop and becomes drunk, unruly and dangerous. The Captain has banned him from drinking alcohol on board ship, but he often goes to the taverns when on leave in port. He was flogged once for being drunk on duty.

16-The Brawler

On ship, a very good seaman and popular with the crew. In port, he starts fights in taverns for the fun of it. He has a knife scar across one cheek. The Murderer fears that the Brawler might kill somebody one day.

17-The Sea Master

This man knows all the magical spells that help to keep a ship safer. He uses his magic sparingly, just in case anything goes wrong. In an emergency, he is the person who the Captain turns to.

18-The Trickster

A joker who likes playing all sorts of jolly and not so jolly japes. Some are funny, like the time he tricked someone in a tavern into asking if anyone had seen “Mike Rotch.” Others are very unfunny, like the time he stole something from the Gambler and placed it amongst the Jonah’s belongings. The Jonah was wrongly flogged as a result.

19-The Dreamer.

This sailor has dreams of finding treasure, of adventure, of battle, but they don’t get in the way of his work. Another who is liked by most of the crew.

20-The Teacher

Supplements his pay by teaching various subjects to those of the crew willing to pay for them. A good teacher who can make most of the things he teaches seem exciting. On duty of course he does the same work as everybody else.

21-The Former Pirate

He used to sail with a pirate crew until the Navy of (insert nation of your choice) tracked it down. He was able to pick the lock of his chains and escape from prison the night before the rest of his shipmates were hanged. He privately longs to become a pirate again and sooner or later he and the Would Be Mutineer will find out about each other and become good friends.

22-The Acolyte of Ma-O

This man has a secret that makes the Murderer’s look tame. He is a secret cultist of the banned Cult of Ma-O the Water Demon, and has plans of his own to cause trouble. Another man who is secretly ripe for mutiny. In the last port that they went to, he managed to secretly set fire to the town, burning a large part of it down.

23 and 24 Burns and Smithers

These two know each other so well that they finish each other’s sentences, and are always found together. If one goes up the mast so does the other, and when off duty they agree where to go and what to do. The Don Juan suspects them of being lovers but since they could be seriously punished, perhaps even hanged, for homosexual sex, he keeps his suspicions to himself.

25-The Braggart

This man brags about how strong he is, the voyages he has sailed on, the famous people he has sailed with ect. Not surprisingly he has few friends and the Brawler hates him with a passion and nearly beat him up once.

26-The Emigrant

This man is working his passage to the other side of the world. Although he does not know all the intricacies of naval protocol, he does his best to make himself useful and most of the crew like him or at least tolerate him, although the Boson gets angry with him at times.

27-The Stowaway

This man should not be on board at all and spends the days in hiding, be it in the hold, the armoury or other places. By night he sneaks onto the deck and pretends to be one of the watch. His voyage is full of both boredom and the fear of getting caught.

28-The Seasick

As long as the weather is good he does well, but if the ship is in a storm, noone likes him working with him in case he throws up all over them. The Boson, the Hero and the Brawler despise him, whilst the Pressed Man, the Jonah and the Surgeon feel sorry for him.

29-The Merry

The best friend of the Hero, an I-love-life man who always tries to be cheerful and to raise the spirits of others. The Pressed Man finds him irritating but many of the others wish that they could be as happy as he is.

30-The Rebel

Another who might one day join the Would Be Mutineer’s mutiny, he enjoys the life and does not mind the work, but dislikes the protocol. One of those “all people are equal types.” He has been flogged for disrespect and he and the Boson hate each other with a passion.

1- The ArchPriest
He is the older priest in charge. He believes in a strict following of the faith and its tenets, including many of the older forms that have fallen by the wayside. He expects the others to know these forms and follow them, but he never explains them or tells the others about them.

2- First Prelate
He is a middle aged priest. He knows the local DiPriest (ArchPriest’s boss) from their training. He thinks he was sent here to “keep an eye on things”. He thinks since he was “of the same class” as the DiPriest and several other high ranking officials, that he is being groomed for such positions. He keeps trying to give orders, but the others follow the ArchPriest’s or Prelate’s directions. He keeps sputtering on about “How the DiPriest will hear of this…”. He dreams of getting some empowerment from the DiPriest and taking over.

3- Prelate
He who has the real power in the temple. Since the ArchPriest is not very worldly, the Prelate deals with all the practical matters of running the building and tending to the worshipers. He is a smart, good looking, youngish middle aged man who tooks his priestly vows when he was quite young.

4- The Monk
He has been a priest at the Temple for so long, even the Archpriest does not quite remember when he first came. He will occasionally perform temple duties such as worship and celebration, but most of the time he lives in quiet contemplation and prayer.

5- First Celebrant
He is the public face of the Temple. He performs most worship services and celebrations, as well as various rites. He is a charismatic man, but not very practical.

6- Minister
He is one of the rank and file priests like the Monk and First Celebrants. While he will do his temple worship and celebration duties, he does most of his work outside the temple… admid the worshipers. He is the most active in the community itself. The local lord/ goverment find him a thorne in their side, as he is always advocating for the people.

7- Minister’s flunky
This is an acolyte, a priest in training, who thinks the Minister is the greatest thing since The Faith was created. While the Minister is idealistic, the flunky is a fantatic. He occassional scares people with his “zeal”.

8- The Fat One
This priest came to the temple from another one a good journey away about the same time the ArchPriest took over. Both have aged gracefully here and stayed in their exact positions. He is a humble friendly man who is content to serve his entire lifetime in this very temple.

9- Sohi
This warrior is not a priest, but simply bound to the temple as its guard and protector much the way a Knight is to a Lord. This position is becoming rarer and rarer these days, but the Arch Priest insists they have at least one. The Sohi is an ex military type of the local army and is more spit and polished than most. Think Ex-Marine and you have it. The Sohi is protective of the Illuminated one.

10- Warrior Acolyte
This acolyte has been sent to the Temple to learn the priestly ways. That is too boring for this bundle of energy. He helps the Sohi who is teaching him military ways. He is the temple cat’s caretaker.

11- Travelling Priest
This priest is from a far away land, with an odd language and some odder customs. However, he knows the faith quite well. He will return home some year, but for now, he is attached himself to the Temple.

12- Librarian
This acolyte will be a priest some day. Right now he takes care of most of the scribely and scholarly duties at the Temple. (Or at least those that the Prelate is not doing.) He loves his scrolls.

13- The Brat
This acoltyte has been brought to the church by his rich noble family so he will eventually take the vows of a priest. Unfortunately, he is not ideally suited to that vocation. He still tries to act the noble lordling. The Sohi might make him wield a weapon in a time of trouble, but he will find the Brat is a poor warrior.

14- The Illuminated
This young one has been touched by the Divine. He is still training to be a priest, but in many ways he knows more than most priests. The Prelate is trying to keep the boy a secret from everyone, as they might take advantage of him.

15- Blacksmith
This acolyte was a blacksmith’s son and is built like it. He is big, huge, and muscular for his age. He is an orphan, left to live with the Temple. He may someday be apprenticed to a smith like his father.

16- Sneaky One
This ex-thief was given to the temple as an Orphan to be taken care of. While he is not priestly in orientation, he has comfortably taken to the life of an acolyte. He no longer thieves, except when someone really rich refuses a proper donation to the church. Then the rich person finds their purse a bit lighter on the way out.

17- Voice of Deity
This acolyte is a mere month away from being a full priest (by taking the vows, tests, etc). He is a devout and proper priest already. He also has the most incredible singing and chanting voice anyone has ever heard. He watches over the acolytes as they are his flock.

18- Voice’s Brother
This acolyte is a bit farther away from taking his vows. He, like the Prelate, is quite worldly. The two brothers make quite a contrasting pair. While “The Voice” takes a paternal interest in the acolytes, the Brother does all the real work with them. The Prelate is not sure what to do with him… either to let him go into the world or make him the next prelate.

19- The Smart One
This one is both the scholar and the card sharp/ con man. He is quite like The Face, except he views religion as a dodge/ con/ hustle, rather than a devout following. He is one of the Three Guardsmen, the three priests from the same class at a large Temple not far from here. They are all assigned their first “learning” position here.

20- The Loud One
One of the Three Guardsmen, the three priests from the same class at a large Temple not far from here. They are all assigned their first “learning” position here. This man is large, boisterous, and prone to the fire and brimestone approach to preaching to the masses.

21- The Quiet one is the last of the Three Guardsmen, the three priests from the same class at a large Temple not far from here. They are all assigned their first “learning” position here. He is actually being a priest as his “cover”. He is actually an agent (spy) for the government. He will serve as a priest at a potentially rebels (or at least trouble maker’s) household… to head off trouble and warn the government of what is brewing. He finds the hijinx of the Smart One admusing.

22- Plotsman
He digs the graves for the Temple’s worshipers dead. (If the religion does not do this, he does the unpleasant job of doing the dirty work for a funeral.) He is a disagreeable fellow who robs the dead of their grave goods and will do some body snatching for the local “bad person” if needed. He lives in and around the internment grounds in an old shack and is technically part of the Temple staff.

23- The Craven
This is an intinerate priest who is staying with the Temple at the moment. He is a frightened mouse of a man. He was once a nobleman’s son, but he was soft and weak. His father rejected him for his younger son. Thrown to the world, he became a priest.

24- Healer
This healer works with the Minister in supporting the population. Depending on the faith, the Healer may or may not be a priest. The Healer used to be the Healer of an important man, who died under the healer’s care. That death still haunts the Healer.

25- Healer’s Apprentice
This acolyte mostly carries the Healer’s things. However, he has learned a thing or two about healing. He might even have “the gift”.

26- The Female Scholar
This young lady spends much of her time at the Temple learning about The Faith. She is not vowed to the Temple in any way (and is forbiden to do so by her family), but treat her like an acoltyte.

27- Soul Cat
Yes, this is a cat. It also is much smarter than a normal cat and has the ablity to see and hear spirits. The Sohi is aware of the cat’s pecular abilities. The Prelate is more skeptical, being a more secular priest, but is willing to keep an open mind.

28- Sanctuary
He was a young bravo a few years ago. However, he killed the wrong man in a duel. He came to the temple and claimed sanctuary. He has changed over the year becoming more and more an acolyte than a prisoner. Note, there are still people watching the temple looking for him.

29- Caretaker
This middle aged man has been an acolyte for longer than most of the priests have been priests. He never wants to take his final vows. However he is the one who cooks, cleans, and helps maintain the temple.

30- Pots
Pots is a young child who was left at the Temple one day. He has been taken and raised by the caretaker. He might go off and find his way in the world some day or he might take over his “da’s” job at the temple.

For your pleasure and entertainment, here we present, thirty fiendlings seasoned with a whiff of brimstone, teasingly clad in shadow, accompanied by tunes played on pipes of angel-bone; likewise do we tell of the gifts they might bestow upon one in their favor.

In the Theatre of the Grotesque, deep under the streets of Jantir, strange plays see the stage, pieces of alternative and alien beauty and horror alike, some of them bloody or obscene, some subtly insane or hauntingly catharsic. Malrassie is the headmistress of the assembly of misfits that brings these disturbed pieces to life, seeking to explore less-travelled avenues of art. Gifted with enchanted silver hair that she uses to string the instruments of her orchestra, she accompanies those eerie tunes with her own ghostly voice that strikes an inner chord in the listener.

When acting, she does so with the passion of her demon ancestors; indeed, when in a role, people have learnt to treat her as if she indeed was that theatrical figure.

Gifts:

*A violin: strung with her sorcerous hair, this instrument possesses a lost soul’s voice

*A private performance: with a distant smile on her face, Malrassie will perform, for your eyes only, the most beautiful aria she knows; it happens to include cutting and burning herself “to make it authentic”. The final words sung, she will be carried off to a healer.

2 – Helcharod the Healer

Four arms with razor-sharp claws, a stinger tail with sleeping poison and blood that is acid predispose this tiefling to a lot of vocations – one of them happens to be the medic’s trade. Practising in the slums, he is a consummate healer capable of stitiching together the worst cases. Sadly, his lack of social skills and passionate anatomical studies make the superstitious perceive him in the worst light – a necromancer or worse!

Cheerfully, he will show his scars and urn marks from when he narrowly escaped angry mobs; yet, he is unbothered, for all that matters is the healer’s art!

Gifts:

*Something extra: after your encounter with a foe far out of your league, Helcharod scraped you off the pavement and put you together – with an extra arm, tail, or half a lizardman’s torso. “I had one spare, and there was not enough left of you to rebuild you anyway.”

*Ighor: is it a diminutive flesh golem? An augmented cripple? The misshapen henchman will serve you loyally to please his creator/rescuer.

3 – Baloera “the Blank”

A charming fiendling, if you like pert horns, bat wings, lacquered hooves, and a tail tip dyed pink that is, this girl is trouble. A freelance thief, the daring Baloera is renowned for stripping the mansions and treasuries of the upper class bare, and then wasting the wealth on anything that strikes her fancy.

Plying her trade where the thieves’ guilds dare not tread, she has enemies in high places; yet, she couldn’t care less. “Live fast, die young.”

Gifts:

*A treasure map: a detailed map of the catacombs of the dwarven bank, with guard rosters and passwords to the most difficult wards? Sounds like easy money. Of course, once the cash is secure, she will try to rip you off.

*A precious jewel: being handed precious stones and gold worth a hundred grand is grand, being chased by assorted knights, detectives and secret orders less so.

4 – Harren the Haunted

Many fiends spread their seed amongst the mortals, so that when it sprouts, they have readily corrupted minions. Yet, this one refused to give in.

The muscular tiefling sprouts mighty curved horns, his eyes blaze with fire and his skin bears unholy runes that grow spontaneously, then vanish likewise over the course of days; despite his menacing appearance, his behaviour is painfully controlled. Seeing him tending orchards in a remote location, few would guess the turmoil within Harren – but his dark ancestor calls out to him, day and night, urging him to do… things. Were his control to ever falter, his mighty magicks would prove a match for most wizards. To that end, he keeps to himself, avoiding anything that could make him angry.

Gifts:

*Fruit: his dark essence and barely contained sorcery lace the fruit he grows with strange properties. You might be able to see in the dark for a day or gain a succubus’ pheromones for an hour. Choose your treat wisely.

*Calm: having mastered the arts of inner calm and meditation, Harren can share his insights.

5 – Verasta the Valorous

Few are the hellspawn that hunt their kin, but this one is a consummate fiend-slayer. Dark, bewitching and driven, this raven-haired goth princess will stalk infernals ceaselessly, and deal with them in ingenious ways; to that end, she has acquired potent relics and tomes of dark lore.

Few know that the unlikely avenger is actually after the dark ones’ power, draining them of every drop of essence to become a true fiend herself one day.

Gifts:

*A fancy cloak: made from the wings of her grandmother.

*A dark blade: forged of black iron, with gnashing teeth along its edge, and vile eyes and maws on the blade, this sword’s original owner no longer needs it, and Verasta has a better one anyway.

6 – Zardoz Zavrag

Masquerading as a private eye, it is actually this shifty tiefling who is out committing the crimes. Armed with a sardonic grin, devilish goatee, piercing eyes and a dozen razor-sharp daggers, Zardoz will dispose of anyone if the price is right – having come into the possession of an umbral cloak, he’s able to step between shadows. What he knows not is that the cloak’s previous owner is dead – and trapped in its velvet fabric, very eager to regain a body of his own.

Gifts:

*Mercy: the killer will promise you not to accept any comission on your head, and keep his promise.

*Vengeance: you may call upon him once, free of charge.

7 – Helia the Heretic

When she was ordained a priest, half her church thought it preposterous, but now that the charismatic fiendling is leading a reformation movement, she is considered outright heretical. With nothing but her vestments and the faith of her flock to shield her, she uses charm, debate and a cutting tongue to address the flaws that gnaw at her church. Indeed, it may not be too long before the powers-that-be have her dragged to a stake.

Gifts:

*An angelfeather: this is the very feather that Helia found on her pillow the day she first started to question. It has the strange power to help people in a wide radius (miles) process their thoughts and come to conclusions with greater alacrity.

*Her heart: having died a martyr’s death, her followers bring the PCs her heart in a crystal box, eternally beating with indignity at the injustice and ugring them to carry on her fight.

8 – Marcius the Mountaineer

After trying to play the “fitting in” game and failing miserably, Marcius sought solace in the untamed mountains. The rugged weather-beated tiefling serves as a mountain guide and leads travellers safely through the treacherous passes – except for once a year, when he slaughters an unfortunate soul for his mountain witch wife, so that she can bathe in his blood and be young again.

Gifts:

*A boon: blessed by the witch and her dark consort, you can look forever young – all it takes is a little blood.

*A secret place: Marcius’ knowledge of the rugged peaks is second to none, of their aspects both in the world of light and shadow. A prayer mat inscribed with fell signs will allow you to enter the lost temple of P’thok when the light of the moon is right.

9 – Nelenia Nightbrand

A courier of the highest class, unbribeable, uncatchable, this statuesque tiefling has an amazon’s body, her skin is ebon, likewise are her tresses and the tail-hair, elaborately braided.

Few know that her fiendish ancestor was a nightmare, and she can take the beast’s form to run swifter than the wind, across the skies.

Nelenia loves a challenge, and will often tease someone impressive to tame her. So far, none succeeded.

Gifts:

*The ride of your life: for one month, Nelenia will serve you as a steed.

*Secrets of the dark mare: Nelenia can bewitch, bless or curse any horse; she will do so for you, once.

10 – Demerion the Dark

Stylish, smooth and socialite, this is one well-adjusted tiefling, fittingly working in law and finance. Nonchalantly, he displays his heritage, but plays it down as a joke of fate, even makes fun of it to defuse tension. Publicly visible and prominent, he is a willing high-level minion for his dark ancestor, distanced from the effects of his agenda by several layers of proxies.

Gifts:

*Eternal wealth: in detail, Demerion explains how this pouch never really runs dry – every midnight, all your spent coin returns to it. How this constitutes stealing and stains your soul he will omit – no sense in spoiling your joy of all the pocket money!

*Social climb: for your aid, you will receive a permanent members’ ring to an elite lodge, golf club, theater, a ritzy restaurant. Demerion will be more than happy to meet you, chat, and cunningly steer you towards being an unwitting pawn.

11 – Celeste the Courtesan

Visually a perfect testament to her succubus heritage, Celeste is also a perfect hermaphrodite and one of the most expensive escorts in the capitol. Not one to kiss and tell, she uses a cloak of invisibility for maximum discretion; schooled in the arts of passion by the priesthood of Axani, the Moaning Goddess, she is also worth every coin, and due to her welcoming nature, also a balm upon the soul.

Not a fool by any stretch of the word, Celeste avoids any breach of confidentiality with her clients, and hoards money for retirement.

*A night of love: depending how prude it is, the character may either walk away from this one wide-eyed and traumatized, or dreamy-eyed in bliss, and enlightened in the ways of love.

*A red tress: much like the braid woven into her carmine hair, this heartfelt gift will subtly wrap your thread of fate together with those of potential loves; they may not be obvious and can be unusual indeed, but they will be there. Just be sure to pass it on once you find the right one.

12 – Syiris the Scorcher

With raging flame obedient to his every whim, Syiris is a battle-mage of great skill and renown. Dressing ostensibly in crimson, gold and rubies and hovering in a nimbus of fire, he’s difficult to overlook as well; an inferno burns in his eyes, and liquid fire drips from his wounds.

Syiris has an unhealthy obsession with the queen, and serves as her loyal hound, general and terror weapon in one; were he not certain the queen loved the king, he’d incinerate him at moment’s notice and take his place, heedless of who might object.

*It burns!: Syiris grants you a small portion of his flame – small for him, that is. While you may be able to hurl flame with your hand, remember it is hellfire, and desires to be used.

*Say the word: Syiris will solve a problem for you, though probably with lots of arson, screams and charred bodies as collateral. While he’s at it, he might solve some other problems of yours unasked, too.

13 – Ravenna the Robber Queen

The Terror of Helmshire, the Red Raider, the Sardonic Slayer, Ravenna holds many names, most of them related to her pillaging of several provinces adjacent to Brimstone Heights, a dangerous volcanic range where her bandits lair, in an obsidian fort stuffed with gold and skulls of her victims, if the rumors are to be believed.

Once a naïve village girl, she was abused horribly by several noblemen, and swore vengeance upon the whole corrupt kingdom. With her gift, she knows who deserves vengeance the most: for, you see, by looking deep into your eyes, she learns of your sin. While she might have tried to aid people to overcome their flaws by pointing them out, nowadays, she is just vengeance and punishment, her once-beautiful scar-marked body an incarnation of mercilessness.

Gifts:

*Dig deep: take a bauble from my hoard, fool.

*The sins of thy father: “I met your father’s gaze, and I learnt of his dark doings… I am not the evil you should be fighting.”

14 – Brass the Body-Painter

Covered head to toe in disturbing imagery, the apocalyptic designs upon this tiefling’s body seem to move as he does – and sometimes on their own. Heavily pierced and bound to the walls of his atelier by a dozen long chains, Brass is a tattoo artist unlike any other, for there is an inner magic to his art. Being able to see into the layers of the abyss, All the time, whether he wants it or not, he is highly unstable and disturbed, and rarely ever coherent, but rarely lacking for inspiration. When the stars are right, from his hands flow works of wonder.

Gifts:

*Something to remember me by: like requested, the tattoo will protect you from poison. Also, it will serve as a second mouth, and should the end times come, demon lord Ach’Sharath will use it as the preferred gate to enter this world. Isn’t it splendid?

*A… rug? : Upon a rather large piece of thin vellum, the map to your destination is presented in vivid color and detail. “I drew it upon Sheran Blackoak’s skin, but he wasn’t worthy of it, so I took it back.”

15 – Kestrel the Keeper

Few dare to tread in the Mage-Waste, where sorcerers of old bent and twisted the landscape with the eldritch might unleashed in their wars. Kestrel though has found it soothes the tumult in her soul, and grown to love the waste and its misshapen denizens. Having understood the energies of the blighted land, she lets them into herself slowly to shape her into a form that came to her in the first dream she had in this strange land – so far, it is evident in her hair having become translucent sensory tendrils, the eyes in her forehead, chest and backs of her hands and glowing spots in her hands, through which she can meld her mind with any beast of the wastes.

To the denizens of her domain, she seems a guide, even savior, one with the spirit of the Bleak, a warden of this twisted piece of nature, wreaking terrible vengeance upon any who dare to come there to plunder, hunt or for sport.

Gifts:

*Seeds of the Dark Mother: these twisted black seed things carry the concentrated essence of the Mage-Waste and will sprout a mighty tree where planted; around its location, the land will be changed akin to the Waste.

*One with the Bleak: Kestrel will draw a weird writhing thing from her body, and offer it to you – once it and you grow together, you will be protected in the waste, and begin changing to fit in better.

16 – Isambard Ironfist

A stern rule is a necessity in the wind-swept reaches of Balenor – a nation exposed to myriad dangers within and without. The fortress-cities are kept safe by the Last Guard, elite soldiers one and all. It is in their ranks that Isambard has risen to prominence for steadfast determination, skill and valor in combat.

The tiefling keeps an iron daily regimen and leads a mostly Spartan life to keep his heritage in check and never fail his duties; keen in mind and body, he is iconic of his order. Truth be said, his subordinates as much admire him as they fear his stern judgment.

Gifts:

*A convict: you are given a slave, shy and obedient. Indeed, after Isambard worked him/her for some time, there is no fight left in this one.

*A fitting armor: having just slain a dreaded Ether-Beast, the captain orders a suit made of its hide; it still lives and thus repairs itself, and can whisper to you of dangers yet unseen.

17 – Pellenia the Penitent

Well aware of the call of her blood, Pellenia decided to ignore it merrily, and lead a humble and honest life. Still, it shows in the sharpness of her tongue when she chastises those who fail to be right and proper, in her ferocity when she joins the local militia, the spiciness of her cuisine and, if you ask her husband, also in the sheets.

Feeling guilt for the shortcomings of her kin, she regularly sacrifices at the local temples, and prays excessively; also, vicariously, she will try to turn perceived evildoers back to the path of goodness and happy puppies.

Gifts:

*A meat pie: perfect balance of spices and meats makes this a reward worthy of kings.

*Warm clothes: made from the finest wool in pastel colors, this is some comfy winter garb!

18 – Simon Swift

Brigand-turned-sheriff, Simon keeps a semblance of order in a wild growing mining town – though the recent discovery of gold means he’s up to his neck in work. Luckily for him, his blood gave him at least a functional pair of bat wings.

With unconventional methods that would get a lawman in more civilized lands arrested and no little ingenuity, the wenching drinking cigar-smoking scoundrel always manages to strike enough fear or steel into the worst criminals to keep the town going for one more day.

Gifts:

*Confiscated: as you seem a decent fellow, Simon will let you have some dangerous or highly illegal substance he ripped from the cooling fingers of some outlaw – Greek fire, dangerous drugs, left testicle of an arch-fiend, you get the point.

*A tarnished star: you want a town to call your own? How convenient, for Simon just got fed up with his job – and you get to do it.

*A man with six fingers, you say? : calling upon his contacts and allies, Simon will get you some highly unusual help against your arch-rival – jovial dark elves, a half-fire elemental half-fairie sorceress, or a senmurv ninja.

19 – Eluna the Eternal

Having been at the mercy of an insane fundamentalist sect for years, Eluna’s incredible regenerative powers were as much of a curse as they were a blessing when her captors experimented with new torture techniques to see in how many ways they could hurt her.

Jumpy, neurotic and on the verge of insanity, she still will be unerringly loyal to anyone freeing her from that living hell, moreso if he shows any kindness towards her. While Eluna was but a student prior to her capture, she’s literally willing to take bullets for her friends; her affection and loyalty can easily grow into obsession and jealousy, though.

Gifts:

*Breakfast, master: in a fit of mad love, Eluna serves you half her liver and her kidney.

*A locket: the sole possession from her childhood she managed to conceal from the cultists, a golden-and-ivory locket that has the picture of her and a girl of similar looks, and also a free space – perchance for your likeness? Eluna sure hopes so.

20 – Galford the Glutton

The horns, the goatee and the cigars are the only slim things about this fiendling. Having been a successful mobster for two dozen years has left Galford chubby from all the delicacies that wealth can buy.

He certainly spares no expense to look good, from expensive jewelry to stylish clothes and expensive women; still, he is resentful of the young dashing rogues, ones like he was, back then.

Gifts:

*A neat dagger: once this enchanted dagger served Galford well, now he has much less use for it. It can easily pierce armor and returns to you when thrown; that the hidden button in the hilt is a self-destruct spell he forgot to mention. Think of it as a test.

*A rare wine: a connoisseur, Galford offers you an expensive bottle – he even has some quite rare brands, as Gehenna blood-wine, the fey dream-wine or that one with unicorn horn powder in it.

21 – Essentia the Exhibitionist

Actually, this voluptuous scantily clad tiefling enchantress was once a very human mage named Eric, quite competent yet runty and hopelessly homely. At last succeeding at permanently and irrevocably transforming himself into his fantasy, Essentia is a strict lesbian who loves to tease men nonetheless; her problem is that she’s still the same overcompensating socially inept Eric inside. Thus, she may come over as a living cliche, shallow and somehow fake.

Gifts:

*Panties: worn by Essentia previously. She thinks this is the most awesome gift ever.

*Comfy robes: useful and even enchanted wizard robes with a million pockets and built-in deodorant and air conditioning, perfect for a rotund mage about 5’4” in height. Essentia can’t wear them anyway.

22 – Parmenides the Puissant

Auspicious of birth, and mighty in arm and spirit, Parmenides is a blessed warrior without peer - honorable, courageous and just. Having earned every promotion and distinction despite mounting adversity has opened a door in his heart, and pride sneaked in. While soaring towards the very peak of accomplishment, it is well possible that he may stumble along the way, or even fall.

Gifts:

*A distinction: the PCs receive medals of ruddy gold, telling of their deed.

*An honor: you may become a squire to the order, or even a knight in your own right.

23 – Sibylla the Socialite

A guest to every major celebration and ball in the city, Sibylla is an accomplished gossip, dancer and musician, though not much more. Adopted by a wealthy merchant, she was schooled in a lady’s arts, though spoilt by the wealth surrounding her. Enjoying trite intrigue, gambling, social dynamics and simply sleeping around, she can be seen hanging from the arm of whoever is considered “hip” in the city. Also, with her poison tolerance, she is known for drinking to excess, and trying whatever strange drugs find their way to her. All in all, she is profoundly bad influence.

*An extreme makeover: are you a stern paladin? A barbarian from the end of the world? A gruff dwarf from the core of the world? Sibylla will make you chic in no time!

*On the river, baby! : a deck of cards suitable for use in some of the more popular gambling games, it collected some of Sybilla’s essence over time, and is subtly lucky – as long as you are in a blissful carefree mood much like that of its previous owner.

24 – Waldron the Wild

The tribesmen of the Wildermark often have a little fiend blood in their lineage; then, there are those like Waldron, in whom the heritage blossoms in full. Gifted with a bull’s horns, savage claws and ruddy skin bearing fell runes that can shatter an impacting blade, the berserker-king of the Rock Raven clan turns into a creature of pure destruction when bloodlust overcomes him - fourteen feet tall, with six rending arms and wreathed in fire.

Under his rule, the Rock Ravens have subjugated the surrounding tribes, and even imperial officers in the lands south of the Wildermark tremble at the thought of Waldron uniting the tribes and ravaging their lands.

So far though, he seems content with spreading his rule in the north, improving the lot of his people and adding further wives to his sizeable harem.

Gifts:

*Blood brothers: you may marry into his family, and join the Horde! Waaagh!

*A scarlet rune: upon your chest, he draws a wicked rune with his claws, granting you the gift of fury! Waaagh!

25 – Astarte the Alchemist

A fiendling’s resistance to fire is always useful in the alchemist’s trade, especially if you are as experimental as Astarte. To her though, any number of explosions is worth the understanding of the universe. Nerdy, too smart for her own good and clueless in many things mundane, she is a constant source of weird, wondrous and plain dangerous, but ultimately useful concoctions. In her quest, she merrily ignores the large array of infernal powers at her disposal, deeming the hexes and death spells quite useless.

What she could really use, though, is a level-headed assistant to steer her towards the more realistic projects she comes up with, help her keep at least a semblance of a schedule, and eat on a semi-regular basis.

*A wondrous vial: for assistance, you can expect to be gifted with anything from a Potion of Endless Flatulence, Change Gender or Partial Invisibility to Draught of Hercules or Essence of Luck.

*It lives! : you died, that you remember. So why are you suddenly part of this stitched-together monstrosity, and why does that horned girl yell: “Arise, my child!” ?

26 – Galkar the Guardian

In the city of Erandell some tasks are deemed unclean, fit to be done only by second-grade citizens. So it is with handling the deceased and tending their place of rest. Galkar is basically an undertaker by day, preparing bodies for burial and keeping the grounds; by night, he stands guard over the graves, singing lullabies to the dead so that they rest in peace despite the moon’s siren call, and wresting those that rise back into the earth.

Gifts:

*Some ivory: a pair of vapire fangs; Galkar knocked them out himself before he staked the thing.

*A strange flower: thriving on the stuff of shadow, the Umbral Lily opens its ebon blossom only where death is strong. If you happen to be undead, it blooms to full glory in your presence, and should you plant it in your head, it might grow into a tree one day!

27 – Serena the Slave

A beau dancing girl and mistress to a rather benevolent master, Serena’s lot is actually decent as far as medieval fantasy goes. Thus all, even the demure, simple and pleasant slave-girl herself, are unaware of the dark legacy within her. For within, the essence of a long-dead demon queen awaits her rebirth, just waiting for sufficient evil to awaken her. In that gilded cage, it may not come to pass – but who knows?

Gifts:

*A music box: this strange music box appear to be mechanically normal, but it plays disharmonic dirges with a screaming choir instead of merry tinkling melodies, and the dancing mannequin sometimes, from the corner of your vision, appears covered in unholy script and bleeding.

*A beautiful mirror: enchanted to apply make-up where you wish and do your hair telekinetically, this body-length mirror still scares Serena, for when she gazes inside, sometimes a different self appears.

28 – This One and That One, the Twins

It is terrifying for a human mother when demon taint ten generations back manifests as a tiefling child, moreso if it is twins. Given away at a young age, the duo grew up with foster parents, then in an orphanage, then on the street. In all that time, there was but one person they could trust – their twin. Soon they became a dynamic duo of thieves and con artists, making their way with spell and skill, moving on when the ground gets too hot.

Curiously, the moon as a strange effect on the pair: when the moon is waxing, This One is male and That One a girl, when it is waning it is the other way around. During the full moon they both are female, and the new moon sees them as men. Due to their androgynous appearance, a casual observer could not tell the difference, though.

The pair share their successes and defeats, their food, their clothes, their loves. Rarely do they stray more than a few feet from each other.

Gifts:

*A kindred soul: well aware of the value of their gift, they help you find your soul-mate, one akin to you in spirit. For a funny twist, they actually animate your shadow to be your twin.

*Karmic ties: two people drinking a concoction of This and That One’s blood will forever more share one soul, not to be divided by any agency, not even death itself.

29 – Aldamnir the Arbiter

Deep in the bowels of the lost city of Tolhar Tahuni, a sole soul lives. if it might be called so – wired into a strange magical apparatus, the emaciated body of Aldamnir rests in a secret chamber, kept alive by the city’s enchantment.

Once an overseer tied to the city’s maintenance for but a year, he remained bound when the city fell, none to relieve him left.

He dos not know how long has he directed the city’s lava fountains, sent out the golems to capture sacrifices for the dark altars, or ordered invisible servants to polish the onyx statues of its demonic founder. On occasion, a band of foolhardy looters finds its way inside the city – that is when Aldamnir plays.

Gifts:

*At last: relieved from his millennia old duty, the wizened half-dead tiefling opens the way to the city's treasures – such as the colossal store of trapped souls.

*A home: not wishing to rest before the city is restored, Aldamnir ordains you mayor, high priest or general, and requests that you help rebuild the dark jewel that is Tolhar Talumi to its former glory.

30 – Setmenia, the Shadow Seamstress

Her eyes are inky pools, her hair but a dark absence of light, her skin truly white, the horns polished ebony. An unusual artist, Sethmenia travels the gloomy places of the world to gather the stuff of shadow for her creations; she prefers places of great ruin and tragedy, for there, the shadows have character.

With her slender hands, she then weaves them into garments for the refined, into armor strong and light, and into displays of subtle umbral beauty which she leaves in dark corners of the world to be found by the worthy few.

Gifts:

*A scant few shadows: subtle lingerie that appears to be but a temptingly obscuring shade from the right angle.

*The most beautiful place on Earth: Sethmenia takes you where she made one shade eternal, that of a tormented god facing a dying sun.

Appearance
The average Vagrant has clothing in poor condition, is likely both dirty and foul smelling as well as hungry, thirsty.

History/Background
All vagrants have a hard luck or a tearjerker of a story to tell. This is done quite often, as it is a good way for them to gather up some sympathy coin from those better off as well as getting alms from churches and monastaries.

Special Equipment
Almost without exception, a vagrant will have nothing of signifigant value, all of their equipment and gear being worth no more than a single gold piece.

1. The Lame Man
This vagrant has lost both of his legs at the knees and is reduced to hopping around on his arms and begging for coins. He could be an ex-soldier denied his Oblate status, a victim of injury that cost him his legs.

2. The Blind Man
With dirty rags over his eyes, this vagrant is at the mercy of others, those being the most dangerous to him being other vagrants. He is good at getting alms, but they are frequently stolen from him, even out of his hands as he tries to consume them.

3. The Not-So-Blind Blind Man
Often found close to the Blind Man, this beggar is a con, and emulates being blind. Much like a spider, he will prey on other vagrants who try to rob him as he does getting the alms and sympathy of passers-by.

4. The Idler
This vagrant is the epitome of idleness, he cannot keep any sort of job and so long as he has some food in his belly and some rotgut available, he is content to beg for occasional coins and engage in thievery as the situation merits.

5. The Urchin
This vagrant is still not much more than a child, and works to play up that youthful look, who would suspect a child of being a skilled cutpurse.

6. The Mother
This vagrant has a bundled baby and begs for coins and alms, but in truth the baby is held by a false arm. Her arm that is ‘holding’ the baby is actually free to pick pockets and cut purses while everyone coos over the dirty infant.

7. The Kiskeedee
Eventually there are some whores and prostitutes that fall beneath the standards of even the meanest brothels. The kiskeedee is one such woman, now plying her trade for copper pieces and left over scraps from other vagrants.

8. The Mute
Either disfigured by some group, or born lacking a tongue this vagrant is mute, shouting inarticulate sounds at passers-by for coin or alms.

9. The One-Handed Man
This vagrant is missing one of his hands, possibly even one of his arms. now unable to work on a farm or in a craft, he is forced to beg and resort to thievery to support himself.

10. The Knave
A stubborn and hearty vagrant, this man forces people to give alms and donations, with just enough emphasis and force that the givers feel robbed, but not enough for the guards to bust him as a thief. A regular problem character for the local authorities.

11. The Exposed Woman
Dirty and bare chested, this vagrant wanders about in a stupor, some whisper of magic gone wrong, others says curses, breeding too close in the family and other things.

12. The Urchin Prince
The leader of the street urchins, this boy will one day grow to become a consumate thief and criminal, but until then, he will lead his motley collection of hooligans, rowdies and such.

13. The Whipped Man
For refusing to give ground to the authorities, this vagrant was whipped until his back was bloody and then dumped back out onto the streets. His rags and crusted with blood and he wanders about flinching in pain.

14. The Professional
This vagrant has a nice house in the city and a family he supports be playing at being a beggar for coins in the market.

15. The Street Walker
This prostitute has gone freelance, operating outside of any of the brothels or guilds. She sets her own prices, often steals from clients, and is likely under the influence of a pimp.

16. The Carriage Rider
This Vagrant will catch rides on the rear of passing carriages and wagons. At night he will sneak atop them, or simply jump on the back as one passes. His prime goal is relocation, followed by stealing luggage and goods to fence.

17. The Wet Nurse
This vagrant holds a bundle to her breast, a suckling child and begs for coin. In truth, the ‘child’ is usually some small animal like a dog or a cat. The locals respond by throwing her in mill ponds when they discover the charade.

18. The Swagman
All of his worldly goods in a bag made of a blanket, the swagman tells tales on streetcorners for coin before packing up and moving on down the road.

19. The Toothless Man
Once a fighter and a drinker, bad diet and fighting have cost this man his teeth, and consequently, his health. Now sickly he begs from those he once bullied and beat.

20. The Diceman
As often female as male, this vagrant carries dice to teach well off children to gamble, often swindling them out of their allowances.

21. Queen of Cats
Crazy as a loon, this vagrant holds court in an alleyway, his courtiers being tomcats and strays. She speaks to them with names and titles, divind up the neighborhood between them.

22. The Old Man
this vagrant has a posse of children, mostly female, that he has trained to work as house breakers and thieves, playing on the innate reaction of people to dirty faced little girls.

23. The Knife
One of the Old Man’s proteges, this vagrant has a hidden knife to protect herself, but is more interested in breaking into homes, rooms at the inn, and the like. As mean as a cat!

24. The Itcher
Covered in red marks and scabs, this vagrant has lice and a somewhat contagious skin condition.

25. The Club
a large piece of wood his tool of trade, this young vagrant waylays lower class craftsmen and merchants by bashing them in the head with his club and robbing them of everthing.

26. The Hair-Shirt
This holy man has divorced himself of all worldly possessions to preach the holy message to the poor, and from the corner pulpit. Most consider him crazy, but some wonder.

27. The City Druid
This vagrant is in tune with the nature of the growing city, and can use a variety of druid skills, but are only applicable in the city and in city roles.

28. The Primitive
Adorned with self inflicted scars, piercings, and decorative mutilations, this one wears the agony of the street on his skin for all to see.

29. The Barrow-Man
This vagrant steals dead bodies, what he does with them is unknown, but he is accused of necrophilia, dealing with necromancers, feeding ghouls, and other similar charges.

30. The Street Mage
With a battered book of tattered spells that require no materal components, this failed mage does magic on corners for hand-outs, and is the first taken into custody when something bad magical happens

This vampire is the *traditional* type, a count who owns his own castle and is the leading noble in the area. If his tenants who pay rent twice a year to live in the small town under his castle cannot pay up in money, they have the option of letting him drink some of their blood in payment. He rarely if ever kills anybody and being the leading noble, he has no problems whatsoever with law enforcement in the region. He is popular in the area, with most of his tenants having no reason to dislike him.

2-The Daylight Walker

It is said that a vampire will turn into dust in the light of the sun, but for some reason this vampire is harmed not by sunlight but by moonlight. As such he has not found a problem with finding an office job and noone suspects him of being a vampire, but feeding is a problem, as he has to attack in broad daylight. He only feeds when he really has to, and then he sucks his victims dry so that they will not survive to tell any tales, and then buries their bodies in his cellar. He never attacks anybody that he knows as if he did that the victims would be traced to him.

3-The Were-Mosquito

By night this man takes the shape of a huge mosquito the size of a dog, and flies around looking for people to feed on. He has the ability to split apart into a cloud of small mosquitoes to fly under doors and through any small cracks and holes in a house, and then reforms and his able to puncture mosquito nets to feed on his victims. If he gets into a fight and starts losing, he will split apart again and fly away to make his escape, and as long as even one of those mosquitoes gets away unharmed, he will turn into his human form at dawn and regain all his strength and vampiric powers by dusk. Those that he bites are likely to come down with disease afterwards.

4-The Feeling Guilty

In life he was a holy man, a priest, and a hunter and killer of vampires. When a powerful vampire got the better of him, he thought it would be very amusing to sire the priest instead of killing him. Normally when someone became a vampire it was a lesser demon that took over his body, but so strong and holy was this man’s soul that it drove out the demon. Rather then drink the blood of human beings, this vampire survives on the blood of rats and other such vermin that he catches with his bare hands. Of course, being a vampire, he cannot handle the symbols of his faith or enter any temples, which deeply upsets him. He has made it his undeath’s work to kill as many other vampires as he can, to get revenge for what was done to him.

5-The Blood Bank Raider

Why bite necks and risk being fought off by your victim, or arrested later by the police, when you have access as a junior doctor on the night shift to the hospital’s blood bank? He never takes more then he needs to survive, as he has a firm sense of duty, does not want any patients who really need the blood to die because of him, and really does not want to be found out. If someone found out about him and tried to blackmail him, he would kill the person rather then be exposed, and then try and put the body into the hospital’s incinerator.

6-The Goblin Vampire

Goblins have vampires too, and they look even smaller, weaker and uglier to human eyes then most Goblins do and are often grossly underestimated, a possible fatal mistake. Vampire Goblins have the strength and speed of a strong human, and are as happy to feed upon humans as upon their goblin kin.

They prefer attacking humans, in fact, as they have more blood in them and tasty flesh to eat. Goblin vampires don’t just stop at drinking blood, but are more like ghouls in their habits, eating the bodies of those who they kill.

7-The Child Vampire

Sired at the age of five centuries ago, this vampire by now has the intelligence of a grown Elf, but cannot show it without looking like a freak. Homeless and without any of the legal rights of adults, she preys on the horrible people who would prey on street children like her and murder them or force sex on them. The street children in her area look up to her, and she leads a large gang of young thieves.

8-Gangster

This vampire works directly for the boss of a large criminal syndicate and is a made man. By day he hides in a safe house so the rays of the sun cannot harm him, by night he carries out whatever foul deeds of torture and murder his boss demands of him, drinking all the blood from the bodies afterwards before he disposes of them. He is prized by the Family he is a member of, as he is so useful to them, and he relies on them for shelter and for a steady supply of new victims.

9-The Ent

How this tree-man was infected with vampirism is a mystery, but now he is a menace to any humans, deer and the like that he finds in his section of forest, grabbing them with his branches and twig-fingers and pulling them to the fang filled mouth in his trunk, where he bites off their heads and drains their blood. His fellow Ents are divided as to what they think of him. Some fear that he will make humans hate them so much that they reach the point where a crusade is declared against them. Others point out that he does not harm plants and trees and does a very good job of keeping humans out of their forest.

10-The Magic-leacher

This vampire was a witch in life, and she uses subtle spells to suck the life force from people, normally without them noticing she is doing it. If uncovered and attacked she has plenty of spells capable of doing harm to defend herself with.

11-The Secret Policeman

This vampire has joined the secret police in a dictatorship, and specializes in draining the blood from political dissidents. Some of those secret police who he works with knows he is a vampire, including his boss, others don’t, but to all he is an effective member of his unit, and has uncovered one or two genuine plots against the regime.

12-Gladiator

Captured by the government but not put to death on the spot, this unlucky vampire was enslaved and trained as a gladiator, and is now made to fight other vampires in the same situation, as well as large groups of humans, and various creatures that are judged to be “monsters” in the eyes of the state, being fed on the blood of those who he dispatches. He hates humankind even more then most vampires because of what they have done to him, and yearns to escape the arena for good.

13-Pop Star

A famous pop star, he was turned by a female vampire who was one of his biggest fans. In a fit of rage, as he had not wanted to be turned, he grabbed and staked his sire with a broken-off chair leg. Not wanting to suffer starvation, he revealed he was a vampire to one of his biggest human fans and she willingly kept his secrets and let him feed from her in exchange for kisses, cuddles, sex and the occasional private song.

14-Cattle Thief

Having found out that cow blood is as wholesome for him as human blood, dead cattle drained dry are regularly appearing on the plains, and the local cattlemen are outraged by the theft and killing of their livestock. They have offered a large cash reward for the capture of the miscreant responsible-depending on how wild the region is and how angry they are they may want him handed over to the local law enforcement to await a trial, handed over to them for private vengeance or just killed on the spot. Enter the PCs…

15-Undertaker

This vampire has found it is just as possible to drink from the bodies of the freshly dead as from the living,and being an undertaker has regular access to freshly dead bodies. Being dead, they cannot fight back and as he is an undertaker he can not only legally bury or cremate them afterwards but is paid good money for doing it, nor will anyone have a clue about what has happened to their dear departed friend or family member. Even when laid out for a viewing, if they seem very pale, that is put down to the embalming process or just the look of death.

16-The Innkeeper

This vampire owns an inn and every once in a while, the occasional traveler or pilgrim far from home and with no friends of family living close by to search for him goes missing in the night. She is very talkative, finding out as much as possible about her customers to select the right target for attack, draining and burial in the inn's wine cellar under the floor and the wine casks. Those who are in groups or who are famous or who would be quickly missed are left well alone and spread the word along the trade routes of what good value for money her inn is. Everything she steals from her victims is ploughed back into making sure that her inn is one of the best inns around.

17-The Ent (II)

This vampiric and malicious Ent largely preys on the trees around him, piercing their roots with his own to drain their sap, killing some of them in the process, and is more then willing to defend himself against anyone, be they human, Elf or fellow Ent who attempts to restrain him. Often it is not known that you are next to him until it is too late and he attacks with his branch claws to deadly effect.

18-Not who you would Expect

On the surface, this man is one of the last people anyone would suspect to be a vampire, as he is in charge of the Kingdom's Slayer team in charge of tracking down and killing vampires, but one evening he and his bodyguards were ambushed by a large vampire gang and he was infected in the struggle. Rather then make this public and meekly subject himself to death by a stake through the heart for the good of the Kingdom and it's people, he secretly attacks people when he can no longer hold back his hunger for blood, and is often put in charge of investigating the attacks and finding the culprit afterwards, something which he has obviously failed to do. Behind his back tongues starting to wag about how he always fails to find the culprit in certain cases, even with the teams of Slayers and the funding under his command.

19-The Ranger

Captured after one attack too many and convicted in the courts, this hardy vampire was given a choice-death by the stake or a paid job as a King's Ranger, patrolling a wilderness area where humans were legally barred from entry. As well as the normal pay of a Ranger, he has the legal right to kill and drain any trespassers he catches within the area, and as there is gold within it there are plenty of those, enough for him to feed enough to stay alive without breaking the law. The wildlife has flourished under his capable protection.

20-The Dictator

This vampire unlike most has no reason to stay in the shadows for through his machinations he has gained a whole country and feeds on his political opponents, unwanted beggars, convicted criminals, and prisoners of war. He has made sure his people as a whole have enough to eat and to buy in the shops and is a largely popular ruler amongst his people, who are willing to overlook the fact that their ruler is a vampire in exchange for prosperity.

21-Crematorium Worker

Another who is more ghoul then vampire, he works at a crematorium in charge of putting the bodies into the ovens and raking out the ashes afterwards. When hungry, he cooks the bodies, takes them out, eats his fill and puts the leftovers back in to be turned into ash, leaving no traces. As the bodies died before he found them, nobody is going to ask about them,and unlike most vampires he gets to enjoy cooked food.

22-Royal Torturer

A vampire who works for a very suspicious and nasty king, he tortures those judged to be opponents of the king, then slowly and agonizingly drains then dry and feasts on them. He wears a mask when working to protect his identity from those who would assassinate him out of revenge if they could, as he knows there are many out there who despise him and want him dead.

23-Fairy Vampire

Rather then prey on it's own kind, this appealing looking winged fae a few inches tall preys like a mosquito on sleeping humans. Most humans who do not know it's true nature would think it to be sweet and harmless and so let it live instead of trying to kill it. It is an exile from it's own kind,who exiled it rather then kill it as it used to be popular amongst them and owned up to being turned as soon as it got the chance.

24-Vampric Dog

Not all vampires are human-this ridgeback was somehow infected with vampirism. Fed on the occasional rabbit, not quite enough to end it's hunger but enough to keep it in good condition, it will attempt to attack, kill and drain anyone who dares to break into the stately home that it guards. Despite in it's mind not getting enough food, it still loves it's owner and his family and will happily flip over to be tickled on the stomach by any one of them, or even let them put a hand into it's fanged mouth.

25-Drainer of Magic

This vampire has found out a way to feed on magic power instead of blood and has infiltrated a magical university where he can feed off the high amounts of magical radiation in the library from all the packed together spell books. He has to be careful when feeding-too little and he will suffer all the symptoms of starvation but if he takes too much his aura will start affecting the spells cast around him and will show up on a thaumometer, and he fears being expelled from the university at best and staked at worst if uncovered as a vampire.He much prefers magic draining to the prospect of attacking people to drain their blood.

26-Orc Chieftain

This Orc for reasons unknown was turned but not killed by a vampire and with his new vampiric strength was wildly popular with his tribe, as his great physical strength was respected as one of the great Orcish virtues. He fought other tribes, slew and drained their chieftains but permitted everyone else to join him, one by one uniting the tribes and clans into one great Orc Nation which sooner or later will seek to expand it's borders into the realms of Elves and Men. He feeds on political dissidents and when he has to, prisoners of war, but only drains when needed or to prove a point, as he wants allies more then meals.

27-Vampiric Coral

This strange sea-coral preys on fish, even large ones, that come within six feet of of it by sending out harpoon like tentacles with barbs that shoot out at great speed and impale the prey. Because it works as one hive-creature it can even kill a human or a fully grown shark that gets too close. A kind of cleaner fish is not targeted by the coral, and both lures in prey for it and keeps it clean of parasites and sediment in exchange for protection within it.

28-Alien Race

Whilst this space-bearing race has long since found a synthetic version of the blood it uses, when in war it's soldiers drain any POW that gets into their hands, and drain the bodies of all those who fall against it in battle, in the process getting a really fearsome reputation and preventing it's own soldiers surrendering in case they are killed out of revenge.

29-Water Elemental turned Vampire

A mage summoned a Water Elemental but forgot to provide proper protection when he drew the pentagram that was supposed to keep him safe, and the outraged and terrified Elemental slew him with fists of boiling water and frozen ice and then drained him dry. Unable to get back to the Plane of Water by itself and hating humans for what the mage has done, confined to a large lake by the heat, the Elemental has begun to regularly make a habit of killing and draining humans for sustanance and out of revenge.

30-Tomb Guard

This luckless Vampire was captured and entombed alive with a couple of bound criminals to drain inside the tomb of a recently deceased king, in the hope that by the time tomb robbers move in the Vampire will be maddened by hunger and will quickly kill and drain them as a *one-shot* weapon in the war against the tomb-robbers.

1. - H.H. Gilmartin
A respectable seeming and industrious man, Gilmartin sits among the Guildmasters of the Hostelers’ Guild. He is known for his black hat, long mustache and penchant for wearing a monocle. However, he is much less known for his secret and merciless hobby of kidnapping and murdering guests who stay in his Inn. His preferred victims are comely young lasses, but he will slowly torture and murder anyone he deems attractive enough for his tastes.

2. - Baron Hain Draadnagel
Dressed in a stiff woolen tunic decorated with gold epaulets and various medals of battle, the Baron is a striking figure. Getting on in his later years he is seldom seen without his companion hunting hound. The Baron’s goals are simple, he desires more wealth, power and influence, but he lacks the conviction to actively pursue these gains. Instead he engages in cloak and dagger activities. Unfortunately, his attempts are poor, as the Baron has no experience being subtle.

3. - Briar Menoth
Menoth, more commonly known as Briar Menoth, or just Mother Briar is not what one expects of a villain. Seemingly a calm and placid older country woman, Menoth is actually a greater demon that has be divested of a greater part of it’s vile powers. Until it can regain it’s lost might the demon hides in a shell of stolen human flesh and plots. This hidden avatar of evil provides information to evil mages, thieve’s dens, and any other sort of evil that will increase it’s power and influence.

4. - The Big Boss
An obese 350 pounds and sweating inside stark white court attire, the Big Boss is the most powerful of the Thief Lords. While most guilds are run by an assortment of guildmasters, with a degree of democracy and cults of personality, the Big Boss rules with an iron fist. The city has no formal guild, instead all of the burglars, thieves, beggars, con-men, and cut-purses have been forced to swear fealty to the Big Boss. Despite his criminal activities and habit of petting his nefarious pet weasel, the Boss despises illicit drugs and his gangs will remove those who try to set up shop in his city. His desires are basic, more money, more power, more respect.

5. - Nix Tyrannus
Once a prominent and near genius alchemist and practitioner of Pnathic sorcery, Nix was almost slain by one of his own sorcerous experiments. Instead of perishing, he was turned into an imperfect fusion of man and reptile. His body is thick and covered with iron hard scales, his fingers and toes end in thick black claws. He retains a general humanoid form and his human intelligence, but his appetite and temper are purely reptilian. His mastery of Pnathsis is exemplary and he has a host of similar beast-men as servant slaves, his real desire is to restore himself to his human form. This is now compounded by his increased reptilian rage and instinctive hatred of soft, pink, furry humanity. Only fit for eating…

6. - Kriegor, Lord of the Wastes
A frightening figure seemingly cut from nightmares, Lord Kriegor is a Demon-Souled, a human sorcerer who battled a demon, defeated it, and then consumed it’s tainted essence. Remaining a human, Kriegor now has demonic powers, immortality and increased magical powers. Mounted atop a night black stallion, he himself has black wings, a crown of blood red horns and loves to wade into combat with his gore stained war cleaver. He only uses spells in combat when his normal weapons seem to fail, or the battle seems to be boring to him. His ultimate goal is domination, and destruction as far as he can see. He is completely nihilistic now.

7. - Lord Hiss
Some men drape their evil deeds beneath facades of just and noble causes. As a warlord among the Knights of the Shroud, Lord Hiss makes no bones about hiding his intentions. He means to have absolute power, by any means necessary. His armor is inlaid with brass, and a serpent of gold coils on his battle standard and his cloak. Despite his staggering bravado, he is cautious to the point of cowardice and is always looking for a scheme or a plan that will net him great returns with minimal risk.

8. Galor, son of Hordak
The son of a mighty sorcerer, Galor was deemed for greatness until his father’s kingdom lost it’s war and his father was exiled through a magic gateway. Since then, Galor has worked to restore his father’s fallen kingdom, reclaiming the old capital and the brigand and bandit forces that had encamped there after the heroes returned home to celebrate. clad in sorcerer’s attire and bearing a skeletal staff, Galor is best known for the bone mask he wears, a symbol of the fear he intends to instill in his foes. Despite his brilliance and magical power, Galor suffers from bouts of severe dementia and is violently paranoid. The blood of Hordak is painfully inbred, giving rise to Galor’s madness.

9. - Lady Lynn Argent
Calm and seductive, the Lady Lynn is an evil sorceress who is most often found at the side of the primary villain. Clad in a risque suit of silver plate armor that reveals as much flesh as protects it, she is a panacea for the insanity of the mad genius. Her own fortunes fallen, she plans to prop up a new master and to ride on his coattails back to greatness and power.

10. - Spectra the Diamond Queen
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, as the sales pitch goes, and Spectra would certainly agree. A greed ridden noble and sorceress, Spectra collects diamonds of all shapes and sizes. Invariably these stones are enchanted with a variety of magic spells, or are ensorceled to enhance her already potent spell casting powers. Her favorite spell to use is to suck a person’s spirit into a diamond, leaving their body as a still living but grey and listless near-zombie.

11. - Dame Pantheress
A tall and svelte but jealous beauty, the Dame of Panthers is a wicked and hateful woman. Scorned years ago by the Crown-Prince of the Kingdom she has since turned her attention to revenge ten-fold. To this end she has gathered a cadre of bestial allies, mastered the shapeshifting art, and is a competent sorceress. The Dame of Panthers is easily goaded, and when taunted she assumes the form of a psychotically muscled she-panther. Though not afraid of close combat, she lacks a strong sense of tactical logic.

12. - The Sorcerer Sky Shadow
Once a dangerous inmate locked in one of the Kingdom’s darkest and most secure prisons, the man who would become Sky Shadow made a pact with an extra-planar horror and gained his magical powers. With his newfound might, Sky Shadow turned the prison into his lair with the convicts as his press ganged henchmen. His moniker comes from the giant bat he summons with magic when he has the need to travel. One day, his horrific master will return to claim Sky Shadow and when the time comes, the Sorcerer plans to be ready with a heady offering of sacrificial souls and other offerings drawn from his growing cancerous kingdom.

13. - Garg the Lame
A petty and timeworn wizard, Garg was once the stereotypical villain in his younger days. Now his back is stiff, his head liver spotted and bald, and his cat familiar is half deaf and blind to boot. Largely confined to his chair, Garg is still a shrewd planner but lacks confidence in anyone but himself. Occassionally harassed by do-gooders, Garg is more a grandfather/mentor type for up and coming black mages and villains in the wings.

14. The Assassin
Missing one eye, the Assassin is a man of impressive education as well as skill with a large variety of weapons. Methodical and thorough he seldom makes mistakes and when he does they are hardly glaring errors. Beneath the facade of resilient armor and whirling blades is a man who has lost more than one person should be forced to loose. As such, his only salvation comes from his ability to loose himself in his training as well as persuing his goals of gaining power. Yet in the end, this is solely for the purpose of distracting him from the things missing in his life.

15. - Wahankh the Eternal
Once a mortal sorcerer who attempted to overthrow the King, Wahankh was imprisoned in a stone vessel and buried as punishment. The world quaked in terror when the stone vessel rose as the capstone of a black monolith with a withered and painfully undead Wahankh standing at it’s zenith. Infused with the powers of the ancient spirits of the dead and the evil, he has a large arsenal of arcane and clerical spells at his command. Bordering on nihilism, Wahankh now desires to see the Kingdom that ordered his imprisonment brought low and her people slaughtered or enslaved.

16. - General Megus
Tall, broad shouldered, and having a natural air of command. Megus is at home on the field of battle. Once a loyal subject of the king, Megus was a patriot and nationalist at heart. When the King started making concession to bordering states and minorities within the kingdom, Megus was offended. Rather than let the King destroy the Kingdom with his strange and progressive ideas, Megus rallied the military and staged a violent coup. Megus now has the upper hand in the kingdom, but the King and his Royalists remain a thorn in his side and before Megus can embark of campaign to expand the kingdom, he must annihilate the king and his supporters.

17. - Üstökös the Prophet of the Comet
A sage in a previous occupation, Üstökös witnessed the Omen of Fire as more than just a cosmic event or end of the world harbinger. Seeing the atavistic response to the fear of the comet, he desired to invoke the same fear in others. Abrasive, egotistical, and bloated with stolen power he appears as a senior lieutenant to a primary villain. Once the primary villain has achieved most of the difficult goals, Üstökös will step up as the kingslayer to overthrow the primary villain and take his place.

18. - Emperor Daibazaal
An absolutist leader, Emperor Daibazaal claims the throne of a large kingdom that he hewed out of the various provinces and principalities that once existed. Empires demand expansion, and Daibazaal is willing to expand. to this end he has amassed large armies, both of Imperial troops, provisional levies, and entire regiments of mercenary soldiers. So far, all of his victories have not come from military genius, magical powers or supernatural abilities. Instead he generally wins battles by outnumbering the enemy by margins of 10 to 1 or greater.

19. - Artificer Bezrobotna
An obese man dedicated to artifice and golem making, Bezrobotna is a chronic hermit and hater of mankind. He has a utopian vision of a world unsullied by man’s pollution, excess, and endless noise. Bezrobotna has built a large number of golems and other artifact creatures for the sole purpose of removing the Human Stain from the world and leaving it a cleaner and better place. Of course, his creations require raw materials and in the process his endeavors leave behind denuded forests, stinking strip mines, and smoldering ruins.

20. - Guildmaster Rancid von Shingles
to most people and animals, plants exist solely to be consumed by other creatures. How offended they become when a vegetable turns the table and takes a bite out of them. Von Shingles desires to take over the world, as any good villain would. His method is the use of aggressive carnivorous plants that he has grown with his own alchemical solutions and green magic.

21. Herr Gorganzoll
A recent appearance in the ranks of the Guild Merchants, Herr Gorganzoll is cunning, commanding, and morbidly obese. Despite his recent arrival, he is elbows deep in the Black Market as well as represented in various guild interests. In truth, Gorganzoll is an aggressive member of the merfolk race and is using information and gold garnered from sunken wrecks to finance his plans. Rather than deplete the resources of the ocean, Gorganzoll and his allies have decided to rape the dry land for all it’s worth and take the booty back to the sea…where it belongs.

22. High Lord Papillus
Appearing as a bloated and uncomfortable man (think Baron Vladimir Harkonnen) the High Lord delights in war, slavery, and murder. Even more frightening is his public penchant for cannibalism, though all of his official meals are executed criminals. The truth is far more sinister. Far from being a cannibal, Papillus is a polymorphed Slaad. Being a toad-like demonic creature, Papillus is almost on vacation, gorging on human flesh and inciting as much violence and bloodshed as he can. Once the Slaad ruled the world as humans do, and perhaps one day they will again.

23. The Sultan of the DarkThe haint since escaped from Chiaroscuro, the Sultan of the dark aspires to become a complete shadow-demon. To this end it desires to collect objects of tenebrous might and consume their essence as well as fostering a cadre of shadowmancers to tap into their power as well. If the Haint succeeds and becomes a shadow demon, his half-life will be ended and he will become a greater threat, along with his newly empowered shadow-slaves.

24. - Master Dav Laxar
Calm, handsome, even tempered, wealthy, and well connected Dav doesn’t fit into the standard mad villain mold precisely because he is isn’t mad. Shrewd, he lays his plans not on schemes, crackpot inventions, or desperate chases after magical dinguses. Instead he has loyal men, loyal to him not to coins or the greater cause of evil, as well as his money and his social connections. A Machiavellian manipulator and natural speaker, Laxar should be a threat to be taken very seriously, as he will not divulge his plans to captured foes, nor will he let them languish in prison cells to escape.

25. Captain Blight
Commander of the fearsome warship Maelstrom, Capn Blight is a beast of a man with a heavily scarred face and a blood thirsty crew of pirates and scallywags. Unlike most such men, Blight is backed by an island nation bent on world domination. To this end Blight and the Maelstrom along with other smaller and less impressive ships of war spread the flag of their militaristic island nation. The Captain’s most potent weapon is a casque that causes the water around a ship to turn into a thick slime like consistancy. Once a ship is so mired it is easy prey for the Maelstrom’s heavy weapons and boarding attacks.

26. Judicator Parvo
Vain, arrogant, egotistical and catty are all terms that describe Judicator Parvo. How such a vicious and petty man ascended to the rank of Judicator is a mystery but there is no doubt that his misuses of power, naked ambition, and nasty disposition are genuine. A devout cat lover, the Judicator nurses a strong hatred towards dogs of any stripe and will have them killed as often as he can possibly get away with. Most of his villainous powers come from hireling and underlings who are either ambivalent to his methods or share an interest in being his allies.

27. Queen Beriru
A magnificently beautiful elfin sorceress, Beriru for a time stood as the next to inherit the tiara of the Elven Queen. Yet she was undone for her love of a mortal man and her desire for power. When she rebelled against the elves and tried to elope with her lover, Beriru was banished to a realm of darkness and entropy. Rather than perishing, the Elf fought and destroyed monsters and raised herself to being a queen of that hellish realm. now in command, she seeks to cross back into the material world and visit punishment on the elven knights and magi who banished her as well as finding the reincarnation of her human lover.

28. Pontifex Tarsal
once a mortal sorcerer, Tarsal captured a massive chunk of demon jade that changed him. filled with the necrotic essence spilling from the four pound stone, Tarsal was transformed into a half living half dead skeleton covered in withered flesh and papery skin. Combining his mortal sorcery with undead immunities, Tarsal has become a powerful foe. His lead henchmen have also been exposed to the demon jade and have also been turned into intelligent and resilient skeletons.

29. The Baron of Blades
A tall and arrogant man, the Baron of Blades is a self-proclaimed master of every weapon that has a slashing and thrusting edge. To this end he has special body armor that is decked out in shredding blades, punching tines, as well as carrying four to six swords at a time. While not a big time nemesis, the Baron has a cadre of fighters and thieves at his call. This clan of elusive warriors move into an area and wipe out the existant thieves guilds with deadly force and intimidation.

30. Boktor Ganger
Head of the villainous Clan Steen organization, Boktor Ganger is a master of disguise and polymorphing magics. His most insidious power is his soul-eating-technique where he draws out the soul of a defeated enemy and consumes it. Once a soul is bound, Ganger can assume it’s mortal appearance at will as well as use any powers had by the soul in question, save for clerical powers. Always hungry for more powerful forms and assured immortality, Ganger is working to the point where he thinks his power can be used on a god. Until then, the PCs are fair game.

A member of the Society of Civic Wizards, this elderly but immensely powerful wizard rules his domain strictly. Only he and those who have the proper license or that he knows well and trusts are permitted to cast spells, and anybody misbehaving with magic is dragged up in front of him and stripped forcibly of his or her magical powers and spells.

2-The Just

This mage has never been known to use his powers for evil, and is respected and liked by almost everyone who lives in his area. More then once he has saved the area from starvation when the rains failed, as well as helping out many individual people when they fell on hard times. He is a Royal Advisor to the King at times.

3-The Fence

On the surface this mage is a perfectly law-abiding fellow, who never openly uses his powers for evil. But behind the scenes he makes a lot of money selling unlocking spells, dangerous spells and other banned spells and enchanted items to the top bosses of the large underworld gangs in the city. Some of the biggest robberies in the city were only made possible by his magic.

4-The Mage in Hiding

This mage has the great misfortune to live in a land where all magic, even white magic, is forbidden by law, and where the feared Hexenjagers enforce the law with great vigour, tracking down and killing or torturing and executing magic users. He will only use his magic powers if he has no other choice, and will not admit being a mage to anyone.

5-The Healer

This mage trained long and hard in medical magic and runs the biggest and best hospital in the Kingdom. He is expensive to hire but is well worth paying for, as he can heal even the most deadly diseases, provided that they have not already spread too far. The downside is that he has almost no non-medical magic at all.

6-The Rake

This mage likes having sex with people far too much, and has made many different types of illegal love potions and other potions that are little better then rape drugs. He supplies the owner of the Soft Foot’s Secrets stall at the Black Market with many of his best items. He is wanted in three Kingdom, two Duchies and a Queendom for rape and moves from town to town to stay one step ahead of his pursuers.

7-The Godling

This mage sees himself as a God and is feared and hated by all because of his terrible temper and chaotic magic. A chapter of the Civic Wizards tried to take him down and were forced to retreat with two left dead and a third warped beyond all understanding. He is trying to make the Heavens open up so he can go and live with the Gods.

8-The Battlemage

This mage knows all the great spells of battle and is a Colonel in the army of his Duke. He is a loyal and stable old man who can fully be trusted with the great magic that he has. He sticks to the rules of war and will not knowingly attack unarmed civilians, nor we he share his spells with anyone outside the armed forces.

9-The Reluctant

This mage, unusually amongst magic users, did not want to study the magic arts and would much rather have been a bard.. His strict father forced him to learn, however. Despite his great knowledge, he can often be heard grumbling about his lot. He gets impatient with those who come to him for help.

10-The Ghostbuster

This mage is the one that you turn to if you have a paranormal problem. Be it an infestation of zombies, an Urn Beast on the loose, a Wight causing havoc or the most pesky of poltergeists, this one knows how to banish or even destroy them. He can see the early signs of spirit possession and extract the ghost before it is too late.

11-The Godfather

This mage is the boss of one of the largest criminal gangs in town, and is not afraid to deal violently with his rivals. He “made his bones” thirty years ago by killing an unwanted noble with a lighting bolt. Since then he has stolen and murdered and connived his way to the top. He rarely needs to commit crimes now, but he is always ready to do so.

12-The Illusionist

This mage is a master of the spells that make people see what is not, and although he has few strong spells, people pay him a lot to see his shows.

13-The Good Necromancer

This mage provides services for the dead if they do things for him in return. Things like letting them speak to the living. He has only once raised the dead, for a person who could not bear to be parted from his wife. It went very wrong and he had to flee the Duchy in disgrace. He is careful who he will agree to help, fearing agent provocateurs.

14-The Bad Necromancer

This mage raids graveyards to raise the Undead, which he uses to work his land, thus avoiding the need for paid labour. A very secretive man, because almost every spell he casts is highly illegal in all but a few countries of the world. He is one of those few who wants to recreate the deadly Ironbones for his own use.

15-The Fancy

This mage wears a blue cloak studded with silver stars, a tall pointed hat, and carries a crystal staff when in fact a wooden one would be much better. He is a skilled mage, but a vain one obsessed with looking the part. His faults are overlooked because he is genuinely good at his job and uses his magic for good.

16-The Mouthy

This mage pretends to know all kinds of spells both legal and banned, and to have studied at a world-famous school of wizardry and done all manner of heroic quests and deeds, when in fact he only knows how to cast werelight, and a few minor spells. As a result of his mouthing off a chapter of the Society of Civic Wizards has been sent all the way from the capital city to sort him out.

17-The Sailor

This mage knows how to keep a ship safe from most hazards to be found at sea and has saved the vessel he serves on at least once from sinking in a storm. As such he has considerable power and under the rules of the Navy (insert Navy of your choice) is the only man on the ship allowed to argue with the Captain, should there be a genuine emergency in which the ship could be in serious danger. He is liked and respected by the entire crew.

18-The Drunkard

This mage was once one of the best in the city until his wife was killed in a freak accident when a spell to control the weather and ensure a better harvest. went tragically wrong. Ever since then he has turned to the drink and can be found most nights in the taverns, a drunken wreck of a once great mage, burbling about how wonderful his wife once was. He is not a violent drunk and spends a lot of money in the taverns, so the owners are happy to have him. He still remembers many of his spells and could become great again if he could only lay off the booze.

19-The Bouncer

This mage has an unlikely job dealing with troublesome customers in one of the taverns of the town, dealing swiftly with them using a number of pain-causing but non-deadly spells that makes him as useful as any muscleman. Despite his job he is a nice person when you get to know him well, but he is careful who he chooses as his friends, having seen the worst side of society almost every single night. He never causes fights in bars himself or gets drunk.

20-The Cranky

This mage is extremely grumpy and bad tempered with a very nasty streak in him. As a result he has no friends and is very slow to trust people. Most people avoid him and he lives on his pension, as in his youth and middle age he was connected to the staff of the Royal Court. He sees the young as thugs or lazybones and fears the day when death will come to him. He may be old but he is still powerful if he really needs to be, but he rarely casts spells nowadays.

21-The Mage of Mathom

This mage would have gone far but made the dreadful mistake of killing a Priest of Mathom, and the angry god made him take the Priest’s place. Since then none of his spells have worked properly and whenever he tries to do something important it fails in often humorous ways. He bitterly regrets the day he slew the priest and is desperate to make amends in some way but whenever he tries he fails because of what he has become.

22-The Schoolteacher

This mage has devoted his life to teaching students and is well respected by most of them as a very good teacher who knows and loves the art that he teaches. He does have a reputation as a bit testy towards anybody who dares to behave badly in his lessons, but most students really want to learn so there is very little trouble and he has not had to expel a pupil in the last ten years.

23-The Adventurer

This mage makes a living from joining quests in hope of loot. He loves to tell and retell his exploits endlessly in the taverns until the fellow patrons finally tell him to shut up. He generally keeps within the law the vast majority of the time, but a few of his spells have been cast illegally and some of his loot has been stolen from tombs or otherwise wrongfully gained. Most people like him though as he is normally fun and handy to have around in a crisis.

24-The Fearful

This mage learned magic because he feared the world and thought magic to be the best way to defend himself. He never intentionally starts a fight or causes trouble, but he can be dangerous if approached in the wrong way, as he is likely to fireball first and ask questions later. He is very hard for most people to track down as he hides from the world most of the time. He can be reasoned with but it takes time and tact.

25-The Policeman

This mage joined the City Guards and his magic has helped to solve three murder cases, twenty robberies, five assaults, a treason plot and a rape. He is very proud of himself, almost overweeningly so, and is hated with good reason by those on the wrong side of the law, some of who hate him enough to want him dead. He has been the target of many threats and a ride-by crossbowing that only just missed him, but he refuses to give up his job or go into hiding. He is a good friend of the Judge.

26-The Naughty

If there is a banned spell that does not involve murder or rape, this mage will cast it, just for the hell of it. He has nothing but contempt for the Society of Civic Wizards and has done all kinds of silly things, from making balls of werelight hang above their headquarters preventing them from sleeping, to turning fellow mages against them. There is now a high price on his head.

27-The Perfectionist

This mage takes great care with every spell no matter how small that it does not go wrong, and is one of the most popular mages in the city as far as the mayor is concerned. When a really complicated spell has to be preformed he comes in and does it. If you want a really good magic sword he will make it for you, but it will cost you a lot of gold. He looks down on most other mages, seeing them as bumbling amateurs.

28-The Feminist

This mage more or less worships women and thinks of them as gorgeous princesses and certainly equal to men. He has helped a lot of them to learn magic, and in return is liked far and wide by the female population. He never takes advantage of any of them and if he was in trouble, they would rally to his side. Many women want to marry him because of his great respect for females.

29-The Sexist

The opposite of the Feminist, this mage hates women and witches most of all, and would be happy to see witches burned at the stake or hung from the town gallows. Women detest him with a passion. He moved abroad because he felt that women had too many rights in his country of origin. He is a virgin and always wishes to remain so rather then try to get a girl to love him.

30-The Hedge Wizard

This mage travels from village to village, mending pots, rounding up cattle, healing small wounds and blessing newborn babies, aborting unwanted babies, that sort of thing. He is not a member of any guild or society and is technically an illegal mage but he stays out of the big towns and does not draw attention to himself, so he is tolerated as too small to be bothered about. He knows lots of good advice.

The Legend
A potentially mythical king whom everyone admires. He is the hero of the people, a paragon of chivalry, friend to the church and nobility - in short, a larger-than-life ruler.

The Pharaoh
More than a king, this ruler is worhsipped as a god. He is the center of the local pantheon and a very mysterious figure.

The Beowulf
A warrior king who is champion of his people. He has performed great deeds and won many battles for his kingdom. He is boastful and a poor peace-time monarch.

The Nero
An opulant ruler who cares only for himself. He is a fully incompetent ruler and commits countless debaucheries and self-indulgences at the expense of his people. His exploits have made him a villain in the eyes of most everyone.

The Expansionist
This king is bent on expanding his domain. His reign is marked by unending land grabs, and the government of the homeland thins as a result.

The Puritan
A monarch who is bent on a particular religion and imposes it upon his people. He stamps out anything he sees as immoral, and those who don’t follow his dogmas are severely punished. At home and abroad, the nation suffers for his zeal.

The Aurelius
This king is known as a philosopher. His writings adorn every library and are widely read. He is a comptetent ruler, but his true strength lies in his wisdom.

The Commodus
A ruler obsessed with his own physical prowess. He exhibits himself in the gladiatorial ring, the races, and elsewhere as an athlete.

The Caligula
This monarch is plainly mad. He considers himself to be a descendent of the gods, ordering the seasons to change and the ocean to drain, being outraged when they do not. He is a horrific ruler and cruel despot.

The Meiji
The king who is obsessed with progress. He overthrows tradition in favor of following the latest world trend in technology, fashion, and culture.

The Mussolini
The opposite of the Meiji, this ruler wants to restore the nation to its storied and glorious past. This means expelling foreigners, decrying the influence of non-traditional culture, and eliminating political opponents.

The Shogun
A militaristic ruler who wins the people by protecting them from outside threats. Political dissidents are intimidated into silence. His people eat well from the spoils of war.

The Henry
A king who is obsessed with siring a scion. He has had several wives, none of which have provided him with an heir. They were… removed for their failure.

The Paranoid
Uneasy rests the head that wears the crown. This monarch is in constant fear of the world. Many heads have been removed to satisfy his fears of conspiracy. He is rarely seen as he never leaves the safety of his castle.

The Figurehead
A king only in name, this is not a ruler but a mouthpiece for the senate or military. He lives the royal life without the royal responsibilities, making him awkward even as a front man.

The Lothario
A well-known womanizer, this monarch has bedded many, from nobles to wenches. He is rumored to have a number of bastard off-spring in various tiers of society.

The Conquerer
This monarch rules over many lands, all of which he forced into his reign. He rules fairly, so long as his newly acquired constituents assimilate and cooperate.

The Atilla
Even more obsessed than the Conquerer, this king wages war for its own sake. The treasury fattens from his constant intake of spoils, but the people grow distrustful as his need for conscripts increases.

The Politico
A silver-tongued king who knows how the political world operates. He appears to be a very successful ruler, but this is mainly because he sweet talks the nobility and various political advocates.

The Richard
A noble king who is engaged in foreign wars. He is loved by the people, but does very little reigning as he crusades in far-off lands.

The Messiah
More than a king, this ruler is believed to be a god-send. He is both monarch and bishop, rousing the people with his words of faith.

The Plato
This king frankly doesn’t care if he is king. He is disinterested in politics and royalty, focused on being a good ruler. His lack of personal interest, however, can cause even this to falter.

The Reluctant
This monarch would really rather not be king, but has been forced into the position by the royal family. He is an unwilling Figurehead and would gladly hand the crown to another if he thought he could get away with it.

The Tutankhamun
A regent in name, this king is a child who was the only successor to the crown. Most of the decisions are made by his viziers, while he sits in the royal throne playing with toys. His royal servants do his bidding, however, and he has a mean streak for a kid; it’s best not to cross him.

The Ayatollah
Like the Messiah, this king is seen as a religious leader, but he directs his people toward religious warfare. He is outspoken in everything and enforces his faith like the Puritan, but with the approval of his zeal-frenzied people.

The Octavian and the Anthony
The last king recently died, and these two are fighting for succession. The nobility has divided into factions, different sides jockeying for the man who will support them the most. The people meanwhile suffer with no functioning government and the army divided between rulers.

The Qin
This monarch is one of several in a confederation of kingdoms, but he is subdjugating the others in order to make himself the sole sovereign of the lands. He is a harsh tyrant, but sees a higher purpose in unting the quarreling nations.

The Gilgasmesh
This king has a single obsession: immortality. He has devoted a huge portion of the treasury to alchemists and soothsayers to find the secret to eternal life. Many say he is mad.

As long as any can remember, these certain paths allowed one to travel up to and over 20 extra miles a day by using them. One moment one was deep along a small trail, the next he would find himself 20 or more miles farther down the path without realizing it. All was fine until recently. Reports returned talking of the failure of these areas which revealed miles of ancient paths. The protection hiding them has finally failed. Will it release monsters of ages past or reveal magic of unknown worth?

In the land of Kolist near the city of Huwan there are little traveled hunting paths that very few know about. These paths have been used safely by the king’s most trusted as well as anybody else who may have stumbled on them. They have been there for an untold amount of time and have been used through recent memory. The importance of these trails lies in the nature of their magical properties. These certain paths allowed one to travel, instantly and safely, up to and over 20 extra miles a day, depending on the set of trails. One moment one was deep along a small trail, the next he would find himself 20 or more miles farther down the path without any obvious indications. These paths have always been stable and predictable and were named the Talon Trails after the ranger who first discovered them. Those that were magically attuned could exactly predict when the transition through the magic would take place by a slight discomfort. All was fine until recently. Reports came back that the magic is gone and a set of ancient, overgrown paths now fill the void that was once skipped. In many cases, the paths end into a fully overgrown forest.

These newly appeared, ancient trails have spurred a mystery in the area and, in some cases, seemed to have released some danger into the surrounding lands.

Background

All the Talon Trail’s are actually homes of wizards of long past. The city of Huwan used to be central to a large area where wizards had permanent residence and studied together. The Talon Trail is actually just a result of powerful protection spells cast to hide their domains from the ignorant. Anywhere in the radius of the wizard’s home, regardless of the direction traveled, if one walked into the protection spell the person would be deposited on the entire opposite side of the wizard’s home which could span a diameter of five to fifty miles depending on their power. The quickness of the trail just turned into a convenient side effect of the protection that is now known as a Talon Trail.

Most(?) of the wizards are now long dead and the some magic is finally fading. Now that the magic is gone there can be any number of big nasties that were once encased in this wall of protection but are now free. These same walls that kept things out may very well have been keeping things in. The actual wizard’s home may still be encased in greater magic than their first wall of defense so it might be ages till their actual home will ever be revealed. Nobody may even know that their are wizard citadels revealed as they will continue to be hidden. Some may be able to deduce that more is hidden by finding smaller Talon Trails inside the original.

Scattered evidence somewhere within the protection will give an idea of what could be found; old ruins, small overgrown villages, hidden caves/tunnels, or obvious areas of old usage. There is great magic treasure and great danger to be found inside the broken spheres of protection for any brave enough to explore.

Hooks

1)Hired to investigate the trail and the surrounding area to see if it is safe to use this trail at all.

2)A message is too important to wait and it needs to be delivered quickly. They are sent to deliver it with all possible speed and going through the old Talon Trails is still the fastest route.

3)Monsters have started terrorizing villages where nobody knew or had ever discovered a Talon Trail. The wizard that was there was a weaker one and had to resort to using monsters instead of more powerful magic to protect his inner sanctum. Maybe a villager or two know what it was but never told anybody. Now that they know what is in it perhaps opens up some investigation of the larger of the Talan Trails.

4)One of the wizards yet lives or one that has found lore of these places and the falling of the protection is something he has been waiting for. It is now a race between the elder wizard and the characters to find what was protected inside and to keep each other from getting there first.

This princess never travels anywhere without a huge entourage of bodyguards, scribes, aides and servants. Even by the standards of princesses the numbers in her entourage are over the top. Unlike the Princess of Mosquitos she tries not to outweigh her welcome or overtax her subjects, with the result that her huge court rarely stays in one place for more then a couple of days.

2- Princess of Army Ants

This princess dresses in armour and rides on campaign with her army, and the vast majority of them greatly respect her for it. When at home, she lives in splendour like the princess that she is, but in camp she beds down with her common soldiers and scorns luxury, wearing no more jewelry then is necessary to identify her.

3- Princess of Wasps

This princess dresses in striking clothes of black and yellow and many a courtier has felt the sting of her tongue. She is well known for her vile temper and her servants try to avoid coming to her notice if they possibly can. Even her fellow princesses avoid her company.

4- Princess of Honeybees

This princess has a sweet dispostion and works hard for her kingdom, but if greatly provoked she will have the person who did it punished. She is very popular with the people who would swarm around her to protect her if she was threatened.

5- Princess of Spiders

This princess has set up a web of spies and agent provocateurs within her royal court and sits at the centre, waiting for somebody to fall foul of them. She then pounces and has the unlucky courtier dragged off to execution. There are many in her court who hate her, but they have no chance of organizing an assassination without being discovered at an early stage.

6- Princess of Scorpians

This princess is a good negotiator, but there is normally a sting in the tail of her treaties which means that they ultimatly are more for her benifit then for anybody else. She is certainly not one to anger or to try and mess about with, and if people break her treaties, she will not hesitate to send her army against them.

7- Princess of Butterflies

This princess thinks not of politics and affairs of state, but only of jewelry and rich dresses, banquets and balls and costly firework displays. This suits her advisors just fine as it means that they can be the real rulers of the country, as long as they let the princess enjoy herself.

8- Princess of Dragonflies

This princess wants to see a dragon, much to the worry of her court, who have pointed out to her that if she did see a dragon, it would most likely see her as a snack and treat her accordingly.

9- Princess of Moths

This princess is fascinated by magic, technology, and *things that glow* in general. Her royal palace is allways well lit despite the expense, and her courtiers know how to please her.

10- Princess of Mosquitos

This princess is heartily hated by her subjects for the heavy taxes that she forces them to pay, leaving them with just enough money to buy food to survive. Not content with making the lives of her lowly subjects a misery, she and her leading courtiers often descend upon a noble and billit themselves in his hall, forcing him to feed and amuse them until his coffers have run dry.

11- Princess of Snails

This princess wears concealed armour as she fears assassins, and she takes a long time before she makes up her mind, thinking of all the possibilities. On the plus side, this means that she normally makes the right choice. On the minus side, her decisions are grindingly slow.

12- Princess of Slugs

This princess is grossly fat and has dry itchy skin, which in turn causes her to use too much lotion, making her skin often slimy to the touch. Her favourite food is lettuce and she tends to be rather pondorus in her movements.

13- Princess of Ants

This princess encourages her subjects to work hard in building work and other things and despises idleness, punishing beggars harshly.However, she is not a hypocrite and works as hard and sometimes even harder then anybody else, so she is popular with most of her subjects.

14- Princess of Worms

This princess is in the middle of getting her subjects to create an underground city, and takes a great interest in it’s construction.

15- Princess of Maggots

This princess is deeply interested in the dead and in necromancy. Publicly, the only sign of this is that she goes to the funerals of every nobleman or noblewoman who dies. Privatly, she wants to create Ironbones and other undead to serve her and wants to one day become a lich-queen rather then face her own death.

16- Princess of Flies

This princess seems to get everywhere, much to the annoyence of the leading barons of the royal court, who are fed up with her as she investigates what they do and drones on and on at them. Many wish that they could slap her down.

17- Princess of Daddy-Longlegs

This princess is well known as the tallest person in her royal court and some people say nasty things about her behind her back. She is an accomplished dancer and can run very fast if she has to. Her bed and bath are much longer to fit her long legs.

18- Princess of Woodlice

This Princess reacts badly to critism, getting her cortiers to *roll over* and close ranks around her. She also fears assassination and openly wears plate armour at Court.

19- Princess of Praying Mantises

This princess has a hareem of unwilling males, and delights in sending them to the executioner’s axe when she has tired of them. One of the males is trying to escape execution by telling her stories.

20- Princess of Fireflies

This princess has a great fear of the Dark, and as a result by night her palace is lit end to end with candles except for the bedrooms of the courtiers. Some fear that all it needs is an accident or an arsonist assassin and the whole palace will burn from end to end. The guards carry buckets of water along with their weapons, to put out any fire that starts.

21- Princess of Stick Insects

This princess suffers from an eating disorder, and at a time anbd place where most of the rich are too fat, is far too thin, to the point where her courtiers are seriously worried that she will starve in the middle of plenty.

22- Princess of Cicadas

This princess likes to talk, incessantly. Which annoys many of her courtiers as royal protocol prevents them from interupting her. It annoys the thetre owners even more, as noone in the thetre can enjoy the preformances when she goes there, nor can they try and shut her up by force as, like all wise despots, she has a number of trusted guards who react to any violence or even threatened violence with savage beatings.

23- Princess of Locusts

This Princess eats excessivly, with the result not only that she is grossly fat, but that her royal court puts a strain on the area. Whilst not quite as hated as the Princess of Mosquitos, she is far from a popular princess as her own people are starting to go hungry because of her excesses.

24- Princess of Cockroaches

This Princess enjoys "slumming it" and even in an age that is far from clean, her royal court is renowned for it’s filth, to the extent that diplomats from other countries hate going there, and she is finding it difficult to find a royal husband as they don’t want to live in her pigsty of a court. She objects to courtiers who keep themselves clean and neat.

25- Princess of Ant-Lions

This princess rules a desert queendom and when other countries try and attack it, she leads them into the heat of the desert and then her army pounces on theirs and destroys it. Other rulers know how hard her queendom is to take by force and since it has little of great value anyway, they tend to leave it in peace.

26- Princess of Bombedier Beetles

This princess has a temper, and carries a wand capable of launching some pretty dangerous and caustic magic, as well as a Vitriolic Key. Those who would try to kidnap or assassinate her, or just annoy her, are in for a tough time.

27- Princess of Backswimmers

This nautical princess is much more at home on her royal flagship then on land, and has a large and capable navy to protect her country’s trade and drive away pirates. She in fact governs from her flagship and rarely goes on dry land at all.

28- Princess of Fleas

This princess has a really irritating personality, to the point where few of the courtiers can bear to be around her, the general public often hear whispered negative rumours about her, and even her own family avoid her except at special occasions when they have to be together because tradition demands it.

29- Princess of Grasshoppers

This princess really likes to travel through her country just for the fun of it, and also enjoys traveling abroad, rarely spending more then a day or two in one place. She is also a bit jumpy and hates being surprised.

30- Princess of Ladybirds

This princess wears robes of red and black and has a special hate for the lazy and those who live unfairly off others, be they outright criminals or landlords whose rents are too high. Her courtiers all have to have proper jobs, and some of them are unhappy about that.

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However, I am starting to enjoy checking the latest additions, and I will admit that this could be a valuable resource for any GM. So, Kudos to Moon for the idea, Kudos to Scras for the original 30 barkeeps, and Kudos overall!

Okay, I feel the need to justify my 5/5 score for this codex. While most capstone codexes like these tend to score low, or not be voted on at all, Moonhunter's use of the 30 NPC challenge that I started produced 8 new lists of 30. Thats 240 new NPCs that can be fleshed out, dropped into a scenario, or what have you. To MoonHunter, I say thank you.

I think the comment 'nearly identical' just shows that you do not read each of the listings. 30 Criminals went into 30 criminal professions, rather than 30 potential NPCs, whereas 30 Kings and 30 Mages actual delved into historical resources. So the difference in score is justified.

No, I have not read each listing. I have read some though, and it is mostly the same 4.0-ish stuff. I am havign issues with the voting around here, and from your comment and earlier comments I sense that you disagree. That is your choice, but please keep a civil tone. We can be friends though our opinions differ.

A lot goes into this codex, from many contributors, but I really do think this codex is the bedrock of the Citadel. I've mined it early and often, not least for the concept that it's so much easier to bring even mooks to vivid life if you only have a personality trait or two to ascribe to them. A very worthy '5.'

as a group the '30's are my fav sub group here ,so amny of them andso many ideas to grow with. I've been working on a 30 for about 3 weeks(which as most of you realize is a VERY long time for me) can't get enuf 30s 5/5

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A secret MLM (pyramid) company that offers eternal life, but in fact it transfers the life forces of its members to those position "above". If you get high enough, (meaning you get enough new members) you start to enjoy the benefits. Maybe a willing sacrifice is much more effective for the transfer. But no one says, that a suddenly unwilling member, threatening to tell the authorities, may not loose it involuntarily... thus start people to vanish, and aged corpses are deposited somewhere safe.